SECOND •'*• 



(lI^Mitciinial Celebration 



OF THE EXPLORATION OF 



ANCIENT WOODBURY, 



AND THK RECEPTION OF 



THE FIRST INDIAN DEED, 

HELD AT WOODBURY, CONN., 



JULY 4 AND 5, 1859. 



EDITED BY WILLIAM COTHREN. 



WOODBURY ; 

PUBLISHED BY THE GENERAL COMMITTEE. 
1859. 






".'< 



V N , ^ 



General- ■ 



THE ORIGIN OF THE CELEBRATION. 



At a meeting of some two thousand persons, from the several 
towns of "Ancient Woodbury," on the 5tli of July, 1858, it was 
moved by William Cothren, and seconded by Rev. John Churchill : 

" That a Committee of two from each of the towns once included, 
in whole or in part, in the ancient town of Woodbury, be appointed 
by the meeting, with power to add to their own number, and to ap- 
point all necessary Assistant Committees, for the purpose of making 
efficient arrangements for the Historical Celebration of the Second 
Centennial Annivei'sary of the first Exploration of the Town, and 
the reception of the first Indian Deed, at Bethel Rock, on the 4th 
day of July, A. D. 1859, and also to invite gentlemen to deliver the 
various addresses, &c., of the occasion." 

The motion was unanimously adopted, and the following named 
gentlemen appointed such Committee : 

William Cothren, C. B. Phelps,* W. T. Bacon,t P. M. Trow- 
bridge, f Woodbury ; 

R. W. Frisbie, S, li. Mitchell, Washington ; 

T. B. Wheeler, A. B. Downs, Col. C. Hicock,t Southbury ; 

Abraham Beecher, H. W. Peck, Bethhm ; 

H. B. Eastman, F. W. Lathrop, Roxbury ; 

N. J. Wilcoxson, Alfred Harger, Oxford ; 

Dr. Marcus DeForest, Jr., Leonard Bronson, Middlehury. 

FIRST MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE. 

On the 18th day of September, 1858, the General Committee held 
its first meeting, pursuant to written notice by letter, to each member 
thereof, from the chairman, William Cothren. This meeting was 
held at the office of the late Judge Phelps, but the chairman was 

* Judge Phelps died December 21, 1858. 

t Gentlemen since added to then- number by the Committee. 



absent, attending to professional business in a neighboring to 
What the action of the Committee was, will be seen by the i\" 
paragraph, which went the rounds of the Connecticut press : 

WOODBURY SECOND CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 

The General Committee having in chai'ge the matter of the second 
centennial celebration of the discovery of the valley of ancient 
Woodbury, met at the office of Hon. C. B. Phelps, on the 18th inst., 
and gave an invitation to William Cothren, Esq., the " Historian of 
Ancient Woodbury," to deliver the historical address, and to Rev. 
William Thompson Bacon, the "distinguished native poet of our 
vales," to deliver the poem on the occasion of the celebration. These 
invitations have been accepted. 

By a vote of the assemblage at the celebration on the 5th of July 
last, the proposed celebration is to be held on the 4th of July, 1859, 
at " Bethel Rock." Ample preparations will be made by the Com- 
mittee to have tlie celebration worthy of the occasion, and of our 
historic old town. 

All persons having facts or incidents connected with the history of 
the ancient town, are respectfully requested to communicate them to 
Mr. Cothren, or Mi*. Bacon, who will endeavor to make a proper use 
of them. W, 

On the 17th of December, 1858, pursuant to a hke written notice 
from the chairman to each member of the General Committee, a 
meeting was held, from which both Mr. Cothren and Mr. Phelps 
were absent, being engaged in the trial of a cause in which they 
were opposing counsel. Rev. Wm. T. Bacon, who had a short time 
previously been added to the General Committee, presided, and 
Philo M. Trowbridge, Esq., acted as secretary of the meeting. At 
tliis meeting, the following votes were unanimously passed, viz ; 

" Voted, That the Centennial Celebration be held at Bethel Rock, 
in Woodbury, on the 4th and 5th days of July, 1859, pursuant to 
the vote of the 5th of July, 18.'i8. 

Voted, That a sermon be added to the list of exercises already 
agreed upon for the celebration. 

Voted, That we do invite Rev. Henry B. Sherman, of Belleville, 
New Jersey, to deliver said sermon. 

Voted, That there be an Antique Procession on said 4th of July. 

Voted, That there be a Pioneer Encampment from the several 
towns of Ancient Woodbury, during said celebration. 



Voted, That a committee to carry out the last two votes, and the 
General Committee of Arrangements for the Celebration, be ap- 
pointed by the General Committee for Woodbury. 

Voted, That a Committee of Invitation for the several towns be 
appointed by the Woodbury Committee. 

Voted, That the General Committee op Woodbury be 
instructed to secure short addresses prom residents of 
the territory, and others from abroad, who shall be 
present at said celebration. 

Voted, That the Committee of Invitation be requested to secure 
the portraits of early, and other distinguished residents of Ancient 
Woodbury, for the Antiquarian Portrait Gallery during the celebra- 
tion. 

Voted, That a Committee in each town to collect funds for defray- 
ing the expenses of said celebration, including the publication of the 
proceedings, in pamphlet form, be appointed by the General Com- 
mittee of each town. 

Voted, That every person paying one dollar, or more, towards the 
expense fund, shall be entitled to a copy of said proceedings, when 
published. 

Voted, That the poets of the territory be invited to furnish odes 
for the occasion. 

Voted, That there be an Antiquarian Pic-nic each day of the cel- 
ebration." 

The substance of these votes was immediately published in the 
newspapers all over the State, and every body who reads had full 
opportunity to become informed of the action of the Committee. On 
their return, Messrs. Phelps and Cothren fully acquiesced in the 
action of the General Committee. They had left a paper in the 
hand-writing of Mr. Cothren, requesting action on all the above points. 

Pursuant to the above votes, the General Committee of Woodbury 
appointed the following Committee of Invitation, with power in the 
Committee to add to its numbers, viz : 

Committee of Invitation. 
Woodbury— Y. M. Trowbridge, Thomas Bull, Lewis Judd, N. B. 
Smith, Henry Minor. 

Southhury — Charles Hicock, Dr. N. C. Baldwin. 
Washington— B. B. Brinsmade, H. J. Church. 
Bethlem— John C. Ambler, Wm. R. Harrison. 
Roxhury—C. Beardsley, N. R. Smith. 
Middlebury—Dr. M. DeForest, Jr. 
Oxford— N. J. Wilcoxson. 



The chairman of the Committee of Invitation immediately drew a 
circular letter of invitation to the emigrants from Woodbury, sub- 
mitted it to the General Committee of Woodbury, and it was ap- 
proved. The first edition of the circular was issued Feb. 1st, 1859. 
This became exhausted, and a second edition was issued April 1st, 
1859, a copy of which is as follows, viz : 

Woodbury, Conn., Avkil 1st, 1859. 
Dear Sir : — 

The citizens of Ancient Woodbury met on Monday, the 5th of 
July last, and celebrated the Eighty-second Anniversary of our 
National Independence. Near the close of the exercises of that 
day, on motion of .William Cotiiren, Esq., it was voted by accla- 
mation to celebrate on the 4th and 5th of July, 1859, the Two 
Hundredth Anniversary of the exploration of Ancient Woodbury ; 
and to carry said vote into effect, a General Committee of two per- 
sons from each of the towns once included in Woodbury, was ap- 
pointed, with full power to make the necessary arrangements. 

The above Committee having appointed the undersigned a Com- 
mittee to invite all persons who may have emigrated from among us, 
and all others interested, does hereby extend an invitation to you 
personally, and solicit you to be present and unite with us in the fes- 
tivities of the occasion. 

It is expected the exercises will occupy two days, and that they 
will be nearly as follows : 

1. Antique Procession. 

2. Historical Address by William Cothren, Esq., the Historian 
of Woodbury. 

3. Poem by Rev. William Thompson Bacon, of Woodbury. 

4. Sermon by Rev. Henry B. vSherman, of Belleville, N. J. 

5. Reading of Letters and Odes, with Speeches from distinguish<'il 
Emigrants. 

6. Mammoth Antiquarian Pic-Nic, both days. 

7. Pioneer Encampment on Orenaug Rocks. 

8. Amateur Indian Encampment on Castle Rock. 

9. " Guards " and Sentinel service on the Cliffs. 

Tlie various Committees are now in the active discharge of their 
duties, and from present indications, the occasion will be an honor to 
the descendants of the intelligent, virtuous, and noble men who 
planted the town, and who, in tlicir characters, have left to their 
descendants a priceless legacy. 



Come, then, our " latch-strings are out," our hands are extended to 
greet you, and around our hearth-stones the "old ai'ra-chairs" are 
waiting for the absent. 

Very respectfully yours. 

To this circular were attached the names of the Committee 
of Invitation, printed above, and one other, which was subsequently 
omitted for cause. 

It had, from the beginning, been the earnest desire of every mem- 
ber of the General Committee so to ari-ange the parts and apportion 
the duties necessarily arising out of the celebration, that their action 
would meet the hearty approval and cordial co-operation of all inter- 
ested in the objects of the occasion. This was frequently a matter 
of consultation in the casual meetings of the Committee. Not a word to 
the contrary was ever heard. It was in this spirit, with this view, 
after full consultation in the first regular meeting of all the members of 
the General Committee of Woodbury, which, for this purpose, had been 
invested with the full powers of the General Committee, that the 
following action and correspondence took place, viz : 

Woodbury, 25th March, 1859. 
Rev. J. Churchill, 

Dear Sir : — The General Committee were together to-day, arrang- 
ing a little for the celebration next July, and were desirous of getting 
some one to make a little opening speech, on the first day of the 
celebration, after the prayer, and before the other exercises, " Wel- 
coming back the sons of Woodbury, who return to join us in the 
anniversary." We also wish some Clergyman to speak in reply to 
the Sentiment — " The early Clergy of Ancient Woodbury." It is 
proposed that these parts be each twenty or thirty minutes in length, 
and we desire, thus early, to secure persons to take them, as whoever 
accepts them would require some time for a preparation satisfactory 
to himself. 

It is our desire that you would take one of these parts, and the 
one you would prefer. Rev. Mi*. Bacon and Mr. Trowbridge heartily 
join me in inviting and urging you to do this. 

We are receiving letters from all parts of the Union, from the sons 
of Woodbury, who have gone out from us, expressing the greatest 
interest in the proposed celebration, and promising to attend. We 
believe that, with a little earnest effort on our part, it will be an oc- 
casion we shall long remember with pleasure. 



8 

Please write me a line soon, stating whether you will join us in 
the exercises as proposed. 

Yours truly, 

W. COTHREN. 

Mr. Churchill's Reply. 

Mr. Cothken — My Dear Sir — I received your letter of the 
25th inst., on Saturday afternoon. In reply to it, I would say, that 
it would have been agreeable to me to have participated, not in any 
public services, but in such other xoays as I might, in order to make 
the occasion to which you refer interesting and profitable. The oc- 
casion is one, which for some three or four years past, I have often 
contemplated, and conversed upon with different individuals in the 
Town with interest. But no matter for this now. As the programme 
is widely before the public, and the Gen'l Committee have pre- 
pared & sent it out with the Invitation, over the signatures of 
another committee expressly appointed for that purpose, it w'ld to 
the community at large seem at least much like an afterthouglit now 
to add two addresses to the occasion. Not only so, but your note 
gives me to understand that these additional matters are proposed by 
the General Committee for Woodbury, whereas, I had supposed the 
Gen'l Com. for Ancient Woodbury consisting of two from each 
Town to be the proper authority to make the arrangements. It 
would be very far from my wish to speak or to have any public duty 
on that occasion, & I must respectfully decline your invitation. 

Very respectfully, 

J NO. CHURCHILL. 

Woodbury, March 28, 1859. 

On the 16th of April, the Committee had another meeting, and 
made appointments for the exercises of the second day of the cele- 
l)ration, including the parts refused by Mr. Churchill, he having been 
the first man applied to after Mr. Sherman was appointed to preach 
the sermoa. These appointees, with the exception of three, who were 
unable to fulfill on account of sickness in their families, were the same 
as appeared on the final order of exercises, which was as follows, viz : 

WOODBURY SECOND CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 

There will be a Historical Celebration of the Second Centennial 
Anniversary of the first Exploration of the Town, and the reception 
of the first Indian Deed, at Woodbury, on the 4th and 5th days of 
July, A. D. 1859, commencing at 10 o'clock, A. M. 



ORDER OF EXERCISES. 

First Day. 

Antique Procession, escorted by the Band and Roxhury Giiards. 
Ode, by the Choir — tune, " Bruce's Address." 
Prayer, by Rev. R. G. Williams, of Woodbury. • 
Short Introductory Address, "Welcoming the emigrants IVom 
Woodbury home again," by Nathaniel Smith, of Woodltnry. 
Music by the Band. 

Historical Address, by William Cothren, of Woodbury. 
Music by the Band. 

Recess of one Hour for Refreshments. 
Music by the Band. 

Song— "The Pilgrim Fathers," by G. S. Minor. 
Poem, by William Thompson Bacon, of Y\'oodbury. 
Ode, by the Choir — tune, " AuJd Lang Syne:' 
Benediction, by Rev. Thomas L. Shipman, of Jewett City. 

SECOND MORNING,— 8 o'clock. 
Prayer Meeting at Bethel Rock. 

SECOND DAY —10 o'clock, A. M. 

Music by the Band. 
Centennial Hynui, 

Prayer, by Rev. Friend W. Smith, of ^V'oodbury. 
Hymn. 

Sermon, by Rev. Henry Beers Sherman, of Belleville, N. J. 
Hymn. 

Speech: — "The early Clergy of Ancient Woodbury," l)y Rev. 
Anson S. Atwood, of Mansfield, Conn. 

One /four for Refrcskments. 

Music by the Band. 

Ode, by the Choir — tune, " Sioeet Home.'" 

Speech : — " The early Lawyers of Ancient Woodbury," by Hon. 
Seth P. Beers, of Litchfield. 

Music by the Band. 

Speech:— "The early Physicians of Ancient Woodbury," by David 
B. W. Hard, M. D., of Bethlem. 

Music by the Band. 



10 

Speech: — "The Founders of Ancient Woodbury," by Hon. Wil- 
liam T. INIinor. of Stamford. 

Ode, by the Choir — tune, " America." 

Speech : — " The early Schools of Ancient Woodbury," by T. M. 
Thompson, Esq., of Woodbury. 

Speech : — " Grand-children of Ancient Woodbury," by Hon. Cha.s. 
Chapman, of Hartford. 

Speech , — " The Cousins of Ancient Woodbury," by Hon. Henry 
Dutton, of New Haven. 

Volunteer Speeches, by distinguished sons of Ancient Woodbury, 
from abroad. 

Reading of Letters and Odes prepared for the occasion. 

Concluding Prayer, by Rev. C. T. Woodruff, of Woodbury. 

Benediction, by Rev. Philo Judson, of Rocky Hill. 

Hon. Nathaniel B. Smith, President of the Daij. 
Hon. D. B. Brinsmade, of Washington, ] 
" Joshua Bird, of Bethlem, I 

S. W. Baldwin, Esq., of Roxbury, I ^.^^ PrMent.. 

Cyrus Mitchell, Esq., of Southbury, 
Nathaniel Walker, Esq., of Oxford, 
Leonard Bronson, Esq., of INIiddlebury, 

Henry Minor, Chief Marshal. 
Assistant Marshals : 

R. I. Tolles, Elijah D. Judson, 

George Camp, Pilisha P. Tomlinson, 

Robert Peck, James Stone, 

Benjamin Doolittle, Truman S. Minor, 

W. C. McKay, George P. Crane, 

George Saxton, James H. Minor. 

Three other Committees were appointed at the same time with the 
Committee of Invitation, viz : 

Committee on Antique Procession, Encampment, etc. 
}Foo(i6Mry— Nathaniel Smith, S. F. Peck, J. G. Curtiss, S. Hurd, 
H. W. Shove, Rev. R. G. Williams, Rev. C. P. Woodruff. 
Southbury — T. B. Wheeler, A. B. Downs. 
Roxbury — Capt. L. Judd. 
Bethlem— E.. W. Peck. 



11 

Washington — D. G. Piatt, Russell W. Frisbie. 
Oxford— N. J. Wilcoxson, N. Walkev. 
Middlehurij — Frank. Benham. 

Finance Committee. 

Woodbury — Henry Minor, Geoi'ge P. Allen, Charles W. Kirtland, 
George Saxton. 

Washington — Russell W. Frisbie, Simeon D. Piatt, George C. 
Cogswell. 

Roxbury — F. J. Fenn, < '. E. PrinJle, C. Lewis, K. W. Lathroj). 

Southbury — Col. C. Hicock, C. Whitlock. 

Bethlem — Dr. H. Davis. 

Oxford — Nathaniel Walker, Dr. L. Barnes. 

Wm. E. WoodrutF, Woodbiirv^ Treasurer. 

• Committee on Antiquarian Portrait Gallery. 

C. B. Crafts, Wm. Hicock, Joshua Bird, B. H. Preston, F. W. 
Gunn, and the members of the Committee of Invitation. 

On the 25th of April, 1859, the General Committee of Woodbury 
appointed the Committee of Arrangements, and the Committee on 
the Pic-nic, as Avill be seen below, and subsequently the General 
Committees of the other towns appointed similar Committees for their 
several localities, viz : 

General Committee of Arrangements and Reception. 

WOODBURY. 

N. B. Smith, G. P. Allen, 

Walter P. Marshall, H. ]VIinor, 

John P. DeP^orest, Calvin H. Downs, 

Dr. C. H. Webb, G. Piatt Crane, 

Wm. E. Woodruff, E. D. Judson, 

James G. Curtiss, L. G. Atwood, 

Daniel S. Lemon, Truman 8. Minor, 

Elisha P. Tomlinson, James Stone, 

D. Chauncey Somers, F. Orton, 

J. Knight Bacon, D. S. Bull, 

T. Bull, Enos Benham, 

Nathaniel Smith, John A. Boughton, 

Rev. R. G. Williams, W. S. Curtiss, 

R. I. Tolles, P. A. Judson, 



12 



.lames Huntington, 

S. Chapin, 

S. (Jlark, 

L. B. Candee, 

B. Uoolittle, 

Sidney Hurd, 

J. Parker, 

General Committee of A) 

Mrs. N. B. Smith, 
" Wm. T. Bacon, 

- R. G. Williams, 
'' F. W. Smith, 

- C. T. Woodruft; 
" L. B. Candee, 

" Jason Pai'ker, 

" W. E. Woodrufi; 

•' T. W. Walker, 

" W. Cothren, 

" E. J. M. Benhani, 

'' T. M. Thompson, 

" A. Gordon, 

" G. H. Atwood, 

" A. Candee, 

" H. S. Crane, 

" T. Minor, 

" Loren Forbes, 

" J. P. Marshall, 

" T. Bull, 

" C. A. Somers, 

'' J. F. Walker, 

" P. M. Trowbridge, 

" H. C. Baldwin, 

" D. Curtiss, 

" H. Minor, 

" T. Judson, 

" A. Birch, 

" B. S. Russell, 

1' L. G. Atwood, 

" R. Partree, 

" B. A. Sherman, 



J. W. Rogers, 

B. A. Sherman, 

F. A. Smith, 

T. M. Thompson, 

J. F. Walker, 

H. Tomlinson, 

Rev. C.T. Woodruff. 

ranyements on the Antiquarian Pic-Nic. 

Mrs. S. Minor, 

" B. M. Stowe, 

" Bai'low Russell, 

" Fred. Bolton, 

" S. Clark, 

" H. S. Curtiss, 

" N. Smith, 

>' C. H. Webb, 

" C. Betts, 

" G. Lathroj), 

" E. Parker, 

« D. C. Somers, 

" G. P. Allen, 

" C. P. Strong, 

" J. P. DeForest, 
Miss Julia P. Marshall, 

" Helen O. Atwood, 

" Julia A. Bull, 

" Rebecca T. Bacon, 

" Cornelia Betts, 

" Cornelia J. Betts, 

" Emma F. Betts, 

" Sophia E. Benedict, 

" Emily A. Curtiss, 

" Sarah P. Clark, 

" Maria J. Cogswell, 

" Lucy A. DeForest, 

'' Julia E. Downs, 

•' Sally R. Hotchkiss, 

" M. J. Hitchcock, 

" C. Lambert, 

" Harriet E. Judson, 



13 



Miss Mary Minor, 

" Amanda E. Phelps, 

« S. Maria Phelps, 

" Mary J. Parker, 

" Helen Parker, 

" Susan E. Pierce, 

" Wealthy A. Root, 



Miss Cornelia M. Smith, 
" F. C. Trowbridge, 
" Maria B. Walker, 
" C. L. Webb, 
" Clara C. Vaill, 
" Edna E. Russell. 



Orestus Hickox, 
T. A. Bryan, 
Turney Odell, 
Henry Seeley, 
Charles Hickox, 
B. P. Beach, 
Sherman Woodruft', 
S. A. Baker, 
Sherman Hartwell, 
Herman Baldwin, 
R. S. Leavitt, 
T. F. Brinsmade, 
F. N. Galpin, 
T. H. Woodruff, 
E. Hurlbut, 
Seth HoUister, 
J. B. Newton, 
Treat Nettleton, 
Henry Nettleton, 
E. J. Pond, 



WASHINGTON. 

Gregory Seeley, 
Col. I. Hickox, 
Daniel Frisbie, 
Wra. C. Bronson, 
C. L. Ford, 
R. ^¥. Ford, 
Augustus Smith, 
Sheldon Logan, 
Seth S. Logan, 
John Fenn, 
C. Allen, 
Sherman Titus, 
Samuel Burgess, 
Stephen Morehouse, 
Albert Sterling, 
Dea. David Punderson, 
Dea. S. S. Baldwin, 
A. W. Mitchel, 
J. Kinney. 



Mrs. Rev. E. H. Lyman, 

" Dr. R. M. Fowler, 

" F. W. Gunn, 

« C. L. Ford, 

" S. S. Logan, 

" R. W. Frisbie, 

" S. Frisbie, 

" S. A. Baker, 

" T. A. Bryan, 

" F. A. Frisbie, 



Ladies" Pic-Nic Committee. 

Mrs. F. N. Galpin, 
" S. W. Ford, 
" H Seeley, 
" Dr. J. Richardt^ 
" R. S. Leavitt, 



N. Gibson, 
A. Gibson, 
E. Hurlbut, 
C. Leeland, 
H. Morehouse, 



14 



Mrs. F. Newton, 

" G. Baldwin, 

" C. Mason, 

" S. H. Calhouu, 

'• J. Kinney, 

Miss Mary M. Briusniade, 

" Harriet Fowler, 

" Mary Kinney, 

" Sarah Hubbell, 

" Eliza Mitchel, 

" Susan Bronson, 

'- Abba Vail, 

" Lydia Parish, 



Miss Kezia Farrand, 

" Amanda Logan, 

" Celia Nettleton, 

" Isabelle Ford, 

'* Annie Bryan, 

" Fanny Smith, 

" Sila Frisbie, 

" Elizabeth Seeley, 

" Eliza Odell 

" Ellen Hiokox, 

" Lora liollister, 

Eleanor Frisbie, 

'' Frances Ludington. 



NEW PRESTON. 



1. D. Patterson, 
Daniel Burnham, 
Walter D. Sperry, 
Walter Burnham, 
Isaac Brown, 
Wm. C. Wooster, 
a. C. Whittlesey, 
Hiram C. Bennett, 
George W. Cogswell, 
Medad Goodsell, 
J. E. Whittlesey, 



Fred. Whittlesey, 
A. C. Lemmon, 
David ¥j. Meeker, 
S. W. Meeker, 
Sherman P. Camp, 
James Barton, 
Elisba A. Whittlesey, 
John M. Ford, 
Levi Morehouse, 
Sheldon Wheaton, 
Jerome Edwai'ds. 



Ladies' Pic-Nic Committee. 



Mrs. Daniel Burnham, 
" AValter D. Sperry, 
" AValter Bui'nham, 
" Isaac Brown, 
" G. C. Whittlesey, 
Miss Ruth A. Bennett, 
Mrs. Geo. W. Cogswell, 
" Medad Goodsell, 
" S. Augusta Whittlesey. 
'• A. C. Lemmon, 
"■ David E. Meeker, 



Mrs. S. W. Meeker, 
Miss Mary E. Bennett, 
Mrs. James Barton, 
Miss Sarah Camp, 
Mrs. E. A. Whittlesey, 

" John M. Ford, 
Miss Ellen Wheaton, 

"• Minerva AVheaton, 
Mi's. Augusta Scott, 
Miss Helen Brown. 



15 



T. B. Wheeler, 
D. P. AYhitlock, 
H. D. Monson, 
W. C. Beecher, 
8. (t. Goodrich, 



SOUTHBURY. 

C. Whitlock, 
C. Hicock, 
C. N. Hall, 
H. W. Scott, Jr. 
G. W. Smith. 

Ladies^ Pic-Nic Committee. 



Mrs. S. B. Whitlock, 

" N. C. Monson, 

" H. B. Stiles, 

" F. Stiles, 

" L. Smith, 

" D. E. Hinman, 

'■• C. S. Hinman, 

" C. Hinman, 

" C. A. Brown, 

" H. W. Scott, 

" C. H. Hall, 

" E. Pulford, 

" E. Hine, 

" S. G. Goodrich, 

" H. C. Hayes, 

« A. H. Shelton, 

•' J. W. Bradley, 

" J. T. Mann, 



Mrs. C. Oatmau, 

« E. Wheeler, 

" R. G. Curtiss, 

« H. Brown, 

" W. C. Beecher, 

Miss E. P. Whitlock, 

" M. A. Ronaldson, 

" Helen E. Hinman, 

" Ann Hinman, 

" A. F. Stiles, 

" M. E. Monson, 

" Jennie Stiles, 

" Sarah L. Smith, 

" Julia Lum, 

" Mary E. Mitchel, 

" Augusta Stile*, 

" Mary Hicock, 

" Laura Hicock. 



SOUTH BRITAIN. 



Rev. A. E. Lawrence, 
George Smith, 
Oliver Mitchell, 
Marshall S. Clark, 
Samuel L, Tuttle, 
James F. Hinman, 
George A. Hoyt, 
Calvin Lines, 
Elliot B. Bradley, 
Samuel W. Post, 



John Pierce, 
Perry Averill, 
Reuben Pierce, 
Noah B. Tuttle, 
Henry W. Guthrie, 
Charles B. Smith, 
David F. Pierce, 
Samuel J. Stoddard, 
Nelson W. Mitchell. 



16 



Ladies' Pic-Nic Gommittee. 



Mrs. A. E. Lawrence, 

" George Smith. 

" Oliver Mitchell, 

" M. S. Clark, 

" S. F. Tuttle, 

" E. B. Bradley, 

« N. W. Mitchell, 

" Emeline CanfieUl, 

" Eliza Smith, 

" N. B. Tuttle, 

" G. A. Hoyt, 

'' Charles Allen, 

" N. C. Baldwin, 



Mrs. S. D. Garlick, 
Miss Nancy Mitchell, 

" Harriet Canfield, 

" L. A. Treat, 

" Anna Bradley, 

" Sarah E. Smith, 

" Anna Judd, 

" Hannah A. Bradley, 

" Laura A. Mitchell, 

" EUzabeth Downes, 

" Sarah Allen, 

" May Downes, 

" E. M. Averill. 



James Thompson. 
Samuel L. Bless, 
C. C. Pai'melee, 



BETHLEM. 



Theodore Bird, 
William A. Haye.-^ 
B. T. Lake, 2d. 



Ladies' Pic-Nic Committee. 



Mrs. M. S. Todd, 

" li. C. Armstrong, 

" L. P. Judd, 

" E. L. Thompson, 

" E. J. Hubbard, 

'' S. L. Munson, 

" John Towne, 

" Mariah Humphrey, 



Mrs. PL Davis, 
'* Theodore Bird, 
'• E. Riggs, 

Miss Margai'ctt Kasson, 
" Carrie Thompson, 
'' Carrie Morriss, 
" Iramogene Bird, 
" Bernice Skidmore. 



ROXBURY. 



Col. P. N. Hodge, 
B. S. Preston, 
Nathan R. Smith, 
A. T. Barnes, 
Charles Beardsley, 



F. W. Lathrop, 
S. H. Addis, 
H. B. Eastman, 
Rev. Austin Isham, 
A. W. Fenn. 



17 



Ladies^ Pic-Nic Committee. 
Mrs. Aaron W. Fenn, Mrs. Austin D. Burritt, 

" Andrew Weller, 



Orrin B. Seward, 
Mark T. Hatch, 
Henry H. Fenn, 
Austin Isham, 



S. W. Baldwin, 
Erastus Castle, 
Albert L. Hodge. 



OXFORD. 



Nathaniel Walker, 
Dr. Lewis Barnes, 
Joel Osborn, 
Alfred Harger, 
Dr. Geo. A. Tomlinson, 
John R. Davis, 
Mile D. Northrop, 
Sterne Candee, 
Benjamin Nichols, 
Virgil H. McEwen, 



Nicholas D. Hinman, 
Charles T. Walker, 
O. C. Buckingham, 
David C. Riggs, 
Horace E. Tomlinson, 
Samuel P. Sanford, 
Homer Riggs, 
Eben G. Wheeler, 
Lewis B. Perkins. 



Ladies^ Pic-Nic Committee. 



Mrs. Nathaniel Walker, 
" Alfred Harger, 
" John R. Davis, 
f Nicholas D. Hinman, 

• " Lewis B. Perkins, 

Miss Josephine Flagg, 
" Anna C. Fairchild, 
" Julia A. Fairchild., 
" Jane McEwen, 

Mrs. Joel Osborn, 
" Benjamin Nichols, 
" Milo D. Northrop, 
" David C. Riggs, 

Miss Antoinett Tomlinson, 



Miss Fannie A. Wilcoxson, 
" Harriet C. Chatfield, 
" Lucy A. Perkins, 
" Bernice Riggs, 
Mrs. Horace E. Tomlinson, 
Miss Jane L. Buckingham, 
" Sarah J. ToplifF, 
" Josephine Candee, 
" Mary L. Davis, 
" A. Elvira Buckingham, 
" Mary E. Buckingham, 
Mrs. Orrin C. Buckingham, 
Miss Elizabeth Hudson, 
" Elsie Williams. 



MIDDLEBURY. 



James Tyler, 
Julius Bronson, 
Silas Tuttle, 

3 



Erastus S. Curtiss, 
John S. Way, 
Franklin Piatt, 



18 

Franklin Benluim, Stiles F. Munson, 

Ebenezer Smith, Henry "W. Newton, 

Whitfield Upson, William Tyler. 

Ladies Pic-Nic Committee. 

Mrs. William Tyler, Miss Ellen Bronson, 

" Franklin Benham, " Julia Tuttle, 

" F. Hine, " Harriet Curtiss, 

" E. Smith, " Mary C. Hine, 

" W. Upson, " Elizabeth Piatt, 

" S. F. Munson, " Martha Newton, 

" J. S. Way, " Helen Townsend. 

Miss Mary Tyler, 

The following action, wiiicli was decided upon in April, 1859, will 
explain itself, viz : 

ilie Indian Deed given to the founders of Woodbury, in 1659, 
granted 

1^""^ parcel! of Land, bounded as JoUoweth ; Putateuk River 
Soutlnvest ; Naugatunck River nortJieast ; and hounded on ye north- 
west with trees marked by me and other Indians." 

Potateuk river w^as the Housatonic, and the "marked trees" ex- 
tended across South Farms west to the Housatonic river. All north 
of Derby then to this line was included in this deed, including Ancient 
Waterbury west of the Naugatuck, part of Litchfield and New INIil- 
ford. The committee, tlierefo re, considering these towns and the towns 
formed out of them, to be of near consanguinity to us : 

Voted: " To invite our cousins, the towns of Waterbury, Naugatuck, 
Seymour, Watertown, Plymouth, Litchfield, New Milford and Bridge- 
water, to unite with us in our appi'oaching Centennial Anniversary.'' 

A.committee appointed by the citizens of Woodbury, changed the 
place for the exercises selected by the vote passed a year ago on 
Orenaug Rocks, and secured the field of Mr. T. M. Thompson, 
directly east of the First Congregational Church in Woodbury. It 
was an exceedingly fine location for the celebration. The large tent 
of Yale College was procured and supplied with seats, speakers' 
stand, &c., and the still larger tent belonging to the Litclifield County 
Agricultural Society, was procured for the Pic-Nic provided by the 
Woodbury Ladies. A large tent was also provided for invited guests, 
besides a table set out inider the aj)ple trees, loaded with the various 



19 

articles of the Antiquarian Pic-Nic proper, such as bean i)orridge, 
baked beans and pork, Indian pudding, &c., served up in tlie old style, 
in old pewter and wooden platters, with old pewtei- spoons, and other 
antique articles to match. Besides these, the General Committee fur- 
nished a tent for each of the other towns in which to hold their Pic-Nic, 
except Washington, which chose to furnish its own tent-cloth. 

On the first morning of the celebration, the Chief Marshal, Hen- 
ry Minor, P^sq., made out the order of procession, as follows, viz: 
A single Fifer and Drummer. 
Antique Procession. 

Masons. 

New Milford Band. 

Warner Light Guards. 

President of, the day. 

Vice-Presidents. 

Orators of the day and Poet. 

Clergy. 

The various Committees of Arrangements. 

Emigrant Sons, &c., of the Territory. 

Citizens at large. 

The Cliief Marshal wore the Revolutionary military undress of a 
Major-Geueral, and Dr. Davis, of Bethlem, wore a military suit worn 
by Col. Bellamy in the war of 1812. 

A cloudless sun rose over the fair valley of Woodbury, on the 
morning of the fourth, and the weather was cool and most delightful. 

The day was ushered in by the booming of cannon and the ringing 
of bells, in tlie various parts of the town, in the most spirited and joy- 
ous manner. At an earJy hour, the people began to fill tiie town, 
and at 10 o'clock, A. M., the streets were almost impassable. The 
people of Washington came under the direction of Sherman Hart- 
well as Marshal, in a procession of more than a mile in length, escorted 
by the New Milford Band. In it were one six-horse team, loaded 
with fifty persons, ten four-horse teams, sixty two-horse teams, and 
fifty one-horse teams, with flags, banners, and some antique costumes. 
Much credit is due to Russell W. Frisbie, and Thomas F. Brinsmade, 
for this fine turn out. Roxbury came out in her ancient strength. 
Her procession consistetl of 217 teams, under the direction of Col. 
Philo N. Hodge, as Marshal. This procession was rich in antique 
display, and contained several things worthy of special mention. 
Among them was a cart, bearing for a motto, " Days of Homespun," 
drawn by six yokes of oxen, the team of Ira Bradley, containing a 



20 

HHX-breakcr, hctchell, Hax cards, double flax spinning wheel, and quill 
wheel, all in operation, worked by ladies in antique costumes. The 
diiver was Le Roy Bradley in corresponding dress. Another wagon 
bore John A Squire, of Roxbury, and twenty-two of his grand-chil- 
dren, while another still loaded with people in antique dress, bore a flag 
with the motto, " Times and Seasons continue — Manners and Cus- 
toms change." This section was escorted by the Warner Light 
Guards of Roxbury, in a new and elegant uniform, under the com- 
mand of Capt Lewis Judd, who performed escort and sentinel duty 
during both days, and bjf the excellence of their military evolutions, 
the strictness of their discipline, and the gallantry of their bearing, 
might be favorably compared with many a veteran company, which 
had seen years of drilling. Southbury, also, turned out more than 
100 teams, under Cliarles Whitlock, as Marshal. All the other towns 
came with very creditable processions, besides the numerous convey- 
ances crowded with people, who did not join any procession. 

After the several delegations had arrived, the General " Antique Pro- 
cession "was formed at about 11, A. M., on the green in front of 
Hon. N. B. Smith's dwelling house, at the location of the First 
Meeting House in the town. Under the ett'ective arrangements 
made by N. Smith, Esq., and H. W. Shove, M. D., aided by Rev. 
Messrs. R. G. Williams and C. T. Woodruff, it became the marked 
feature of the occasion. It extended, while on its march towards the 
grounds, at least an eighth of a mile in length, exhibiting all the 
varying costumes of the last two hundred years. It was headed by 
an ancient drummer and fifer. Next came the clergy of the several 
towns, in bands and gowns, the clerical costume of clergymen of all 
denominations, less than two centuries ago. Among the clergy. Rev. R. 
G. Williams was particularly noticeable for the perfection of detail in 
his costume. Then came the Puritan costumes of two hundred years 
ago, worn by the Minors, the Judsons,the Curtises, the Stiles, lineal de- 
scendants of the early settlers of Woodbury, succeeded and contrasted 
by ladies and gentlemen in the cavalier costumes of the same period. 
Some of these costumes were magnificent, and all atti'acted much atten- 
tion. Succeeding the couples on foot, came others on horseback, the la- 
dies on pillions. One couple attracted particular attention. They were 
Capt. Judson Hurd, aged 85 years, and Mrs. Harvey Atwood, aged 
72, both dressed in ancient costume, and riding a horse thirty years 
old. Then followed old chaises with couples clothed in the quaint fash- 
ion of other days. And here it should be noticed, that some of these 
antique costumes and dresses were bona fide relics of the olden times, 
descended as heir-looms from father to son. Nothing could be more 



21 

curious than this procession of ladies and gentlemen ; the latter gal- 
lanting the former in all the styles, from that of two centuries ago, 
down to hie present time, the former displaying huge bonnets, high 
head-dresses, and gowns ranging in size from three breadths in a 
skirt to the ample dimensions of modern crinoline. The Masons and 
the general procession followed the antique, making a very imposing 
display. If the various processions as they entered the town, had 
been extended in one line, they would have reached the distance of 
thi*ee miles. Nothing in the whole course of the day's proceedings 
excited such general curiosity, conferred so much real pleasure, or 
gave so clear an insight into the past. 

The procession moved directly to the speaker's stand, arriving there 
about half-past 11 A. M. The assemblage was, in all probability, 
the largest ever gathered together in Litchfield county, and far the 
greatest ever convened in the state on a similar occasion, numbering 
not less than fifteen thousand persons. Not less than five thousand 
of these were within hearing distance of the speaker's stand, part 
of them within, but more without the tent, which was open on all 
sides. The most effective arrangements had been made by the Chief 
Marshal for the preservation of order, and to his tact, and the aid of 
his excellent assistants, great credit is due. Everything was under 
perfect control. This vast multitude observed the strictest order, and 
there was no accident of any kind to mar the pleasure of the festive 
occasion. 

The exercises of the day at the stand where Hon. N. B. Smith 
presided in his dignified and excellent manner, were opened by the 
choir's singing to the air of " Bruce's Address," the 

ODE OF INVOCATION. 

BY WILLIAM COTHREN. 

Spirit' of our sainted dead, 
Heroes to these valleys led. 
Sages of the hoary head, 

Kindly o'er us bend; 
Smile upon this classic hour, 
To us children, give your power, 
In this consecrated bower, 

Us your glory lend. 

Pioneers of Pomperaug, 
Dwellers near the Quassapaug, 
By meandering Nonnewaug, 

Hasten ye along ; 
Brothers near the Weraumaug, 
By the clifl's of Orenaug, 
By the falls of old Shepaug, 

Help to swell our song. 



22 

From the pines on Bantam's shore, 
Softly whispering evermore, 
Weekeepeemee's verdant shore, 

And from Potatucit, 
Come we with our offerings, 
All our dear and holy things. 
From each side the chorus rings. 

E'en from Naugatuck. 

Here we come with earnest zeal,. 
Mindful of our ancient weal. 
Memories Lright to us appeal, 

On this glorious day ; 
Here where Freedom's banner waves. 
Here above our fathers' graves. 
We, as erst the native braves. 

Glad our honors [lay. 

We revere those holy men. 
Soon returned to Heaven again. 
But their works with us remain. 

On this festive day ; 
Thankful to our God above. 
For their deeds of matchless love. 
Their example let us prove, 

While on earth we stay. 

PRAYER. 

A fervent and impressive prayer was offered lu the Throne of 
Grace, by Rev. Robert G. Williams, pastor of the First Congre- 
gational Cliurch of Woodbury, in nearly the following words, viz : 

O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth. 
Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Before 
the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the 
earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. 

Thou art the maker of Heaven and earth, and the governor of all 
things. Thou settest up kings and puttest down princes. Thou dost 
raise up nations and appoint unto them their habitations, and dost 
execute thy will and plea.'^ure in them and by them. Varied is their lot 
and diverse are the manifestations of thy goodness unto them. Many 
have been left in ignorance of that revelation of thyself, made in thy 
word unto other favored nations. 

We address thee, O God, as the God of the Bible, and we praise 
thy holy name that unto us thou hast been pleased to send thy word, 
with its accompanying blessings. We thank thee that thou didst 
entrust it unto our fathers, so that we enjoy the matured fruits of its 
long possession, that they so esteemed it and so loved to obey it, that 
they sought where they might worship thee according to the dictates 
of their own consciences, enlightened by it. As of thine ancient cov- 
enant people, so of them we may say, when thou hast brought a vine 



23 

out of Egypt, thou hast cast out the heathen and planted it. Thou 
preparedst room before it and didst cause it to take root, and it filled 
the land. The hills were covered with the shadow of it, and the boughs 
thereof were like the goodly cedars. She sent out her boughs unto 
the sea and her branches unto the river. Return, we beseech thee, 
O God of Hosts, look down from Heaven and behold and visit this 
vine : and the vineyard which thy right hand hath planted, and the 
branch that thou madest strong for thyself. So will not we go back 
from thee. Quicken us and we will call upon thy name. 

We hail thy goodness, O God, in the fruitful valley thou didst open 
here before our fathers, who led hither two hundred years ago, felt 
at the sight hereof, that they had found a resting place for their feet, 
and a home for them and theirs. How has a little one become a 
thousand, and a small one a strong nation. Verily the lines are fallen 
to us in pleasant places, yea we have a goodly heritage. Here come 
up the thousands from the little one, to review that history which 
thou hast so filled with good, to revive the honored memory of our 
fathers, to thank and praise thee for them and the results of thy guid- 
ance of them. Our joy to-day is thus great because of thy great 
goodness through the long past. These hills and these valleys display 
the greatness of thy care. Peace and plenty have abounded as the 
light of thy smile. Thy covenant mercies have descended in all thine 
own faithfulness. O God, we thank thee for a pious ancestry, for 
their Christian courage, for their large and liberal views of Christian 
institutions, and we this day record thy faithfulness in our experience 
of tlie mercy thou dost show unto the children of all such as keep thy 
commandments. They wandered in the wilderness, in a solitary 
way. They found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, their 
soul fainted in them. Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, 
and he delivered them out of their distresses ; and he led them forth 
])y the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation. O that 
men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful 
works to the children of men. 

Let the incense of those prayers, offered by our fathers in this val- 
ley, under the shadow of that Rock which was indeed to them a Bethel, 
still rise before thee and bring down blessings upon us. Let the 
noble history of the past, the piety of our fathers, through thy goodness, 
inspire us with stedfast faith in thee, as a God to be owned in all our 
personal and civil concerns, and never let us depart from thee. That 
which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us, we 



24 

will not hide them from their children, showing to the generation to 
come, the praises of the Lord and his strength and his wonderful 
works that he hath done. For he established a testimony in Jacob, 
and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers that 
they should make them known to their children, that the generation 
to come might know them, even the children which should be born, 
who should arise and declare them to their children, that they might 
set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God but keep his 
commandments. 

We thank thee God, for our rich national blessings, our civil and 
religious privileges, freedom from national commotions, war, pesti- 
lence, famine, from tyranny and call to war at the-will of fellow-men : 
freedom to worship God as his own word teaches. Make us not only 
grateful for these rich privileges, but sensible of our responsibility for 
them. Enable us to improve them aright, and to transmit them un- 
impaired to those who are to come after us. 

We would implore thy blessing upon thy servant the President of 
these United States and all others in authority. As we enjoy the 
sweets of liberty, so let our prayers ascend before thee for all who 
have them not, especially for the enslaved and oppressed in our own 
land. Where war rages and man hastens to shed the blood of his fel- 
low man. let the peaceful dove of Christianity soon find a resting place, 
and the Prince of peace have Avilling subjects. 

We now implore thy presence with us, upon this festive occasion. 
Guide and guard from all ill. Let no accident harm any here pres- 
ent, and nothing occur to mar the happiness we here seek for our- 
selves, and to impart to others. Let the preparation for the enjoy 
ment, and the influence of this occasion be for good to us and our 
posterity. As the people of these hills and valleys have so much 
in common, let them ever live together as possessing a common lier- 
itage and ever seek to promote their own by caring for the common 
weal. , 

God be merciful unto us, and bless us and cause his face to shine 
upon us. That thy way may appear upon earth, thy saving health 
among all nations. Let the people praise thee O God, let all the people 
praise thee. O let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for thou shaU 
judge the people righteously and govern the nations upon earth. 
Let the people praise thee O God, let the people praise thee. Then 
shall the earth yield her increase, and God, even our own God shall 
bless us. God sliall bless us, and all the ends of the earth shall fear 
him. Let thy work appear unto thy servants and thy glory unto their 



25 

children, and let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, and 
establish the work of our hands upon us, yea the work of our hands 
establish thou it. That our sons may be as plants grown up, in their 
youth, that our daughters may be as corner-stones polished after the 
similitude of a palace. That our garners may be full, affording all 
manner of store. That our sheep may bring forth thousands and 
tens of thousands in our streets ; that our oxen may be strong to labor ; 
that there be no breaking in nor going out ; that there be no com- 
plaining in our streets. Happy is that people that is in such a case, 
yea happy is that people whose God is the Lord. Blessed be the 
Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things, and 
blessed be his glorious name for ever, and let the whole earth be 
filled with his glory. Amen and Amen. 

The Emigrants from Woodbury were then "Welcomed Home 
again," by Nathaniel Smith, Esq., of Woodbury : 

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen, who are here as 
Returned Emigrants: 

We have learned, as the preparations for this our Bi-Centennial 
Celebration progressed, that many of you would to-day revisit the 
scenes of your childhood ; and have feared that among you there 
might be some, whose old homesteads no longer echoed to familiar 
voices, — whose relations had gone out from among us, to a newer or 
a better land. Lest, therefore, any here should be sad for the lack 
of kindly greeting in their native valley, the citizens of Ancient 
Woodbury have directed me to bid you in their name, a CORDIAL 
WELCOME HOME AGAIN ! 

We have invited you to unite with us in reviewing a history which 
is our mutual inheritance, — a past whose story is written all over these 
hills and valleys. Around us, smiling meadows and cheerful homes 
speak of the patient, unobtrusive toil that has wrought this " Dwelling 
in a Wood." Moss, gathered and gathering on the tomb-stones in our 
grave-yards, tells how long ago the early builders began to fall 
asleep. Tiieir homes are our possession — their memory a legacy to 
all. 

We are happy to see you here, not only on account of the pleasure 
your presence adds to the general enjoyment ; but more especially 
because your coming assures us that our history, and song, and ser- 
vices, are not the result of mere local pride, but that you esteem them, 
as we do, a proper tribute to departed worth, an expression of grati- 
4 



26 

tude justly due from us on such an anniversary, to the noble and 
the good who have gone before. We commemorate no ordinary 
struggles and necessities of frontier life. We rehearse the fortitude 
and success of no common adventurers. Were those whose memory 
we are here to honor, mere first settlers, actuated by no higher mo- 
tive than usually leads such into the wilderness, our theme would per- 
haps be unw^orthy of this occasion. The pioneer is rarely a man of 
exalted virtue. Hardy, courageous, and uncouth, he resembles those 
lichens, which, forerunners of vegetation, fix themselves on the barren 
rock, by their acids disintegrate its surface and assimilate its substance, 
till the soil adheres, the grasses grow, and waving flowers succeed 
them. Not such were the Puritan fathers. They were holy Pilgrims, 
and the place they sought became a shrine. 

To such a spot you return to-day — return to meet cheerful faces 
and hospitable dweUings. How different was their coming ! 

" The rocking pines of the forest roared, 

This was their 'welcome home.' " 

They followed God's guidance into the wilderness, and brought 
His worship with them. Hardships were before, dangers around 
them ; but they encountered all in that spirit, which instead of choos- 
ing castles, towers, or beasts of prey, the emblems of conquest and 
pride, for armorial bearings, placed three vines upon a shield, and 
wrote beneath, 

" Qui Transtulit Sustinet." 

Behold to-day how He has "sustained!" See it in these fruitful 
valleys ! Read it in this happy throng ! Truly it is not wonderful 
that a past thus begun and thus resulting, should move us to unite 
in public rejoicing. Let other and older nations do homage to con- 
querors and triumph in their battle-fields, New England celebrates 
her centuries, which bring down the Puritan's blessing to ever increas- 
ing thousands in her land of peace. 

Welcome, then, sons and daughters of Ancient Woodbury who re- 
turn as emigrants to-day — welcome to the land of your fathers, to 
the scene where we unite to do honor to their memory ! How long- 
soever you have been absent, though you meet with few familiar 
faces, we greet you as old acquaintances, as near relations. And, 
knowing that the child of New England never forgets his birthplace, 
though you have your habitations elsewhere, returning here, we bid 
you welcome HOME. 



ADDEESS 



DELIVERED AT 



WOODBURY, CONN., 



ON THE OCCASION OF THE 



tcm^ €tnUnm\ Celebration 



ANCIENT WOODBURY, 

JULY 4.th, 1859. 
BY WILLIAM COTHREN, Esq. 



ADDRESS. 



We stand this day upon the grave of two hundred years. "We have 
come with solemn awe and reverent tread to commune with the long 
buried past. We are assembled, on this anniversary morn, for the 
first time, in the long lapse of two centuries, to commemorate the 
deeds of our departed sires. We are come, after years of absence 
from the old firesides, to recall the memories and renew the associa- 
tions of former days. Some of us come to look upon the old home- 
steads among the hills, and breathe a sigh over the moss-grown 
graves of ancestors long since gone to their rest. Some of us come 
to view the hallowed spot on which our eyes first saw the light ; 
where we, in the hours of innocent childhood, received a father's and 
a mother's blessing, and where we, could we have our wish, at the 
close of a well-spent life, would yield our tired spirits up to the 
Giver of all good. We are this day surrounded with the results of 
all the labors of the past, and occupy the proud positions, long years 
ago so nobly adorned by the sainted fathers and mothers who 
planted this fertile territory, and who, having ceased from their 
labors, have " ascended into glory." They have passed away to the 
land of spirits like the dissolving of a sunset cloud into the cerulean 
tints of heaven — stealing from existence like the strain of ocean- 
music, when it dies away, slowly and sweetly, upon the moonlight 
waters. We do well, on this glad day of liberty, to celebrate their 
lofty achievements, and do meet honor to their deathless names. If 
those revered spirits, who have so long enjoyed their sacred repose, 
can look down through the veil that obscures our view of Heaven, 
they will approve, with a smile of love, the design of our assembling 
here. And when, on the morrow, you shall leave" this place, to re- 
visit it no more forever, you will feel, that it has been good for you to 
have been here on this glad occasion. 



29 

Let us imagine, for a moment, what a scene met the gaze of the 
first hardy explorers of these pleasant valleys, two hundred years 
ago. Every thing betokened that the silence of nature had remained 
unbroken by human voices since those early days, when " the morning 
stars sang together," save by those of nature's own uncultivated 
children, the red hunters of the forest. Nature in all its grand mag- 
nificence met the enchanted view of the pale face in these sweetly 
fertile plains and mountain fastnesses. The grim chiefs of the 
woody wilds alone roamed over these retired solitudes, save the wild 
beasts, that growled upon the thousand hills. Every year had the In- 
dians set fire to the fallen leaves, thus denuding the trees of their lower 
branches, and destroying the underbrush, so that the dense woods 
presented a most magnificent and enchanting appearance. Thus the 
" eye was allowed to rove with delight from ridge to ridge, and from 
hill to hill, which, like the divisions of an immense temple, were 
crowded with innumerable pillars, the branches of whose shafts, inter- 
locking, framed the arch-work of support to that leafy roof, which cov- 
ered and crowned the whole." On the meadows by our noble river, 
were scanty patches of maize, beans, and tobacco, the results of the rude 
husbandry of the untutored savage of the forest. The whole face of 
nature was one vast solitude uncheered by the benign rays of civili- 
zation. From Wyantenuck to Mattatuck, and from Pootatuck to 
Bantam, were heard the dismal howl of the wolf, and the war-cry of 
the red man. Amid these secluded wilds, and by the silvery waters 
of the Quassapaug, sported the timid deer, and coy doves built their 
lonely nests. Here dwelt a race groping in the shadow of dim im 
aginings, faintly led by the light of nature. Here desperate fights 
and deadly ambuscades were planned. Here did the prisoner of war 
suffer the extreme tortures of his enemies. Here the romantic lover 
" wooed his dusky mate," with presents and silent attentions, in prim- 
itive simplicity. Here, too, the powwow held his dread incantations, 
and, if tradition is to be believed, offered human sacrifices to appease 
the wrath of Hobbamocko, the spirit of evil, the author of all human 
plagues and calamities. Here, too, in the golden days of the Indian 
Summer, the poor savage mused of the Great Spirit, the benevolent 
Kiehtan, giver of his corn, beans, and tobacco, who lived far away to 
the south-west, in whose blest dominions he hoped, at death, to find 
his happy hunting grounds. 

Such was the scene that greeted the eyes of Capt. John Minor, 
the intrepid surveyor, and his sturdy companions, as they traversed 
this territory, which was then the farthest point from shore, that had 



'SO 

been explored. This was a short time previous to the 20th day of 
April, 1G59, the date of the first Indian deed of the territory. They 
spent several days in exploring these valleys, climbing the numerous 
hills that surround us, and tracing these swiftly gliding streams. 
They found it to be an excellent place for planting a new colony of 
pilgrims from the father-land. In the quaint language of the Indian 
recommendation, when they were negotiating with tlie first explorers 
for the sale of these lands, " it was a good place for many smokes of 
the white man." 

But how did our fathers come by their title to this now blooming 
heritage ? How did they acquire the fee to the soil, and the right of 
dominion ? How did they obtain rights, which civilized nations, 
even, fight for, and wade through rivers of blood to secure ? How 
acquire the same right to rule, that Louis Napoleon and Francis 
Joseph are now turning Europe upside down to determine ? The 
answer to these questions is at hand, and is honorable to our fathers' 
sense of right and justice. The descendants of the founders of 
Woodbury can look upon their landed possessions, as having come 
down to them by fair, honest, and legitimate titles. No fraud, vio- 
lence, conquest, or stain of blood attaches to the hem of the garments 
of our forefathers. They not only purchased their lands of the 
Indians, but, in some instances, several times over, from conflicting 
claimants, and dishonest pretenders. They were very particular in 
procuring title deeds, and alienations executed in legal form and with 
great solemnity. They were extremely careful, that they might, in 
this manner, more vividly impress on the minds of the Indians, the 
binding nature of their contracts. Those children of natui'e, the 
former lords of the forest, took great interest in the jjroceedings, and 
affixed their uncouth, though often ingenious " marks " of a snow- 
shoe, a fish, a bow and arrow, a war-club, a snake, or some wild 
animal, to the deeds that were conveying away forever their paternal 
hunting-grounds to the pale-faced strangers within their ancient bor- 
ders. They often stipulated in their conveyances, that the •' marked 
trees," or bounds, should be made " clere and ffctyre," and that they 
should be carefully kept from destruction or obliteration. 

The deed of 1659, in commemoration of the reception of which 
we are this day assembled, conveyed all the land within the bounds, 
"Potateuk River South-west, Naugatunck River North-east, and 
bounded on y'' North-west with trees marked by me (Tautannimo) 
and other Indians." This was signed by the Sachem of the Pagas- 
setts, or Derby Indians, and four of his sagamores, and includes a 



31 

territory in Litchfield and New Haven counties, nearly as large as 
Litchfield county itself. It extended, as has been seen, from the Nau- 
gatuck to the Housatonic, and from the Southernmost point of South- 
bury to Bantam Lake. It does not appear that our fathers made 
much use of this purchase, except perhaps for hunting grounds, till 
thirteen years later ; at which time they planted corn upon the river- 
meadows in company with the Indians. The next year, on the 26th 
of April, (1673,) they made their first, or Pomperaug purchase, of 
the Pootatuck Indians, the real occupants of the soil, covering the 
whole town plot from the Eastern hills to " Wecuppeme," and from 
the North end of East Meadow to the " Bent " of the Pomperaug 
River at South Britain, taking in " transiluania and rag-land." By 
this purchase, a large part of the most fertile and arable lands of the 
town was obtained. The second purchase of land from the Poota- 
tucks, was made on the 17th of March, 1685-6. This was the She- 
paug Purchase, comprising two-thirds of the present town of Rox- 
bury, and part of Southbury. On the 18th of May, 1700, the inhab- 
itants of the town, having become numerous for those days, made 
their fourth, or Nonnewaug purchase. Till this time it seems, that 
the Sagamore of that name had retained his possessions in the valley 
of the Nonnewaug, or East Sprain Stream. But now it came his 
turn to make room, and it seems that he and his companions did it 
with a good grace, as the deed informs us the sale was made " For 
valid considerations moving thereto, besides y' desire y' is w"'in us of 
a friendly correspondency w"' j" English inhabitants of s'' Woodbury." 
At a very early day, that part of Southbury known as Kettletown, 
had been purchased of the Indians for the consideration of a brass 
kettle. It had been bought the second time seven years after the 
settlement of the town ; and on the 25th of October, 1705, it became 
necessary to purchase it the third time. Something more than a 
quarter of a century had passed since the last sale, and, by this time, 
it is probable that they again felt the need of the "consideration." 
This was the fifth regular purchase of the Pootatucks. On the 28th 
of May, next year, tlie town purchased the sixth, or Confirmatory 
purchase. This covered and confirmed all former grants and pur- 
chases, together with a considerable tract of land in Roxbury, and a 
piece eighty rods in width from Steep Rock in Washington, to the 
mouth of the Shepaug, on the West side of that river. In this deed 
the Indians reserved a large tract of land in the South-west part of 
Southbury, called the Pootatuck Reservation. This was bounded 
on the North by a line drawn from Shepaug Falls to the " Bent" of 



32 

the Pomperaiig, East by that river, or by a line drawn parallel to, 
and a few rods P^ast of it, from the " Bent " to its mouth, South by 
the Pootatuck, and "West by the Shepaug river. This reservation, 
now called "The Purchase," contained the principal Indian village, 
located on the Pootatuck River, South of South Britain village. Af- 
ter this sale, the Indians continued to convey portions of it from time 
to time, till 1733, when there was left to them only a remnant of their 
possessions at the South-east corner, in which was located their last 
remaining village, called the " Pootatuck Wigwams." They retained 
their title to this last resting place for the soles of their feet for a quarter 
of a century longer, when, being reduced to a mere handful in num- 
bers, in May, 1759, just one hundred years ago, they parted with 
their cherished Pootatuck, and the " remnant that remained," took 
up their abode with the Scatacook Indians at Kent, where a few of 
the full, and more of the half blood remain to this day. In all their 
later sales, they reserved to themselves the right to take game on the 
lands forever ; — a right which was always religiously respected by 
our fathers, whenever a straggling Pootatuck revisited the graves of 
his ancestors, or wandered in his once wide dominions ! 

The " marks " with which these Indians signed their deeds, were 
interesting and unique. Nonnewaug's mark was a snow-shoe, We- 
cuppeme's, a snake, Momanchewaug's, a rude drawing of the face of 
a prostrate foe, Punhone's, a warrior's uplifted arm, and that of Tum- 
masscete, the owner of the first orchard in this territory, was a bow 
and arrow. These " marks " were as truly signatures, and as read- 
ily identified as our own. What the mark of Pomperaug was, is not 
known, as he never was brought to the sad necessity of parting witli 
any of his hunting grounds. He never made his " mark," to such a 
confession of weakness and declining power. 

It is many years since the last Pootatuck, an old squaw, came back 
to the seat of the Pootatuck village, to revisit the graves of her fore, 
fathers, whose bones are washed out from the sandy plain, at every 
sudden overflow of the noble Pootatuck. Looking up to the place 
where stood, and still stand, the few remaining, trees of " Tummas- 
seete's old orchard," " There," she said, the tears streaming down 
her wrinkled cheeks, "there is Pootatuck, the home of the buried 
braves !" What a world of sad associations cluster around that sim- 
ple outburst of nature ! After lingering near the graves of her peo- 
ple a few days, she returned to the place whence she came, and the 
light of the pristine race, in this territory, went out forever ! 

Thus it is seen, that the early fathers fairly purchased every foot 



33 

of the ancient territory, and took conveyances with, due and proper 
solemnities. From the known character of the men, it is to be pre- 
sumed, that these bargains were honestly conducted ; and it does not 
appear that any dispute of any account, ever arose between the par- 
ties, in regai'd to them. Nor were these purchases liable to the criti- 
cism of insufficient consideration. The amounts paid were large for 
those days of poverty ; and no doubt, the untutored savages, who, as 
yet, considered their lands of little or no value, rejoiced greatly over 
such large prices and rare articles as they received for pay, and prob- 
ably thought they had, by far, the best of the bargain. They knew 
not how soon they would be straightened for laud, and their people 
scattered like the leaves of the forest. In the order of Providence, 
one race had arisen, another had passed away. Sampson's locks 
were shorn — liis glory and strength had departed. Tiie red man 
with a sad prodigality had parted with his only wealth. 

Let us pause a moment to drop a passing tear over the obliterated 
graves of a buried race. They are all gone to meet the Great Spirit, 
and, perhaps, as they desired in life, to revel in " happy hunting 
grounds." By the romantic Falls of his own ever murmuring 
stream, is the grave of Nonnewaug. In his own orchard at Foota- 
tuck, near the noble Housatonic, rest the remains of Tummasseete. 
Within the fertile meadows of Weekeepeemee reposes the brave of 
that name, in his last quiet sleep. And there, by that rock, in your 
very midst, they buried Fomperaug, the renowned chief of your 
valley, who gave his name to your beautiful meandering river. A 
hillock of small stones now mark the spot, dropped there, one by one, 
with a tear to each, by his remaining braves'as they sadly passed the 
hallowed spot, on their hunting and fishing excursions. 

And who were the strange people, that occupied these pleasant 
dwelling places in the woods, when the white man reached these 
shores ? They were, indeed, a strange race, beginning in mystery, 
and ending in annihilation. Their origin and mission on earth seem 
to be one of the secrets of the Great Creator. The race found inhab- 
ting these new regions, did not live in comfortable dwellings, sur- 
rounded by verdant fields, which they cultivated, but semi-nude, or 
clad in the skins of wild beasts, they wandered, in small clans, in the 
dense forests, among the lofty mountains, by the murmuring streams, 
and along the meandering rivers. They were destitute of the arts of 
civilized life ; had strange rites and unheard of customs. They en- 
gaged in fierce conflicts and exterminating wars. They were men of 
iron will, who knew no fear, and whom severest tortures could not 
5 



34 

move. They never forgot a kindness, nor forgave an injury. They 
were idolaters, and on our now peaceful and happy plains, they offered 
human pacrifices to appease the God of evil, created by their own 
superstitious imaginations. This rude and barbarous people was 
scattered all over our extended continent, and yet they had hitherto 
been unknown — insulated from the rest of the world. Our fathers 
tried to civilize and Christianize them with little success, though they 
granted them the privilege of attending their schools and religious 
assemblies. Some of them, indeed, profited by these privileges, 
gained the rudiments of knowledge, put themselves under the care of 
the ministers, and became approved members of the Churches. But 
the great majority adhered to the dark and cheerless faith, and cruel 
rites believed and practiced by their forefathers. So far as the In- 
dians of this town were concerned, they were always the friends of 
our fathers, and maintained with them a perpetual peace. There 
were some Indian conflicts here, but they arose from the incursions 
of the Mohawks, Avho previous to the arrival of the settlers, held the 
Indians of this territory as tributaries, by superior prowess. As early 
as 1675, during King Philip's war, they made a treaty with the 
pioneers to these valleys, in which they covenanted to continue in 
" friendship with the white settlers, and be enemies to their enemies, 
and discover them timely, or destroy them." This treaty was ever 
kept, as a perpetual league, with entire good faith, by both the con- 
tracting parties, and many were the mutual offices of kindness they 
performed for each other. Let it be taken for gi'anted, then, as many 
have asserted, that the Indian was fierce, vindictive, uncultivated and 
untamable ; yet with all his faults and failings, he stood erect, in the 
midst of nature's leafy temple, God's original freeman. He could 
never be enslaved. No superior power, intelligence or cunning, could 
make him wear the bondman's chain ! 

Wild rovers of Pootatuck, Mattatuck, Wyantenuck, Pomperaug, 
Raumaug, Bantam, ye have passed away ! Your lights have gone 
out on the shore ! Your thin smokes no longer curl faintly amid the 
thick woods ! Well do we love your good old Indian names, and 
would that more of them, almost the sole relic of your once powerful 
people, had been adopted by our fathers to designate the places where 
your lights went out forever ! 

Such are the simple annals of the unfortunate, and benighted race 
that once had possession of this fair heritage, and roamed in haughty 
independence through these sequestered vales. Not a Pootatuck re- 
mains in the territory of the ancient town, to revisit, with Indian 



'36 

wail and lamentation, the forsaken, and almost forgotten graves of 
his ancestors. When the floods, or excavations of the present inhab- 
itants, exhume the bones of the long buried braves, they are gathered 
up with eager interest, to grace a public museum or private collection 
of antique curiosities. Their sun has set in darkness and in gloona. 
Advancing civilization, so fortunate and happy for the white race, 
brought nothing to the red man but disaster and decay. With a sad 
infatuation, they embraced its vices instead of its virtues. Before 
the white man touched these shores, they enjoyed their wild and 
savage mode of life without molestation. This was "their own, their 
native land ! " Here were their council fires. On the beautiful 
rivers, they paddled the light canoe, and pursued their game in the 
unbroken forests. They went up by their mountains ; they came 
down by their valleys ; they followed their own desires for happiness 
in wild, reckless exhuberance. The mossy cliffs, and the dells in 
the thick woods, echoed back their shrill songs, and fearful cry of 
war. But the white man took up his abode in their ancient hunting 
grounds. The strength of civilization met the weakness of barba- 
rism. From that inauspicious hour, the poor natives waned and re- 
treated farther into the wild solitudes. The children of the forest 
have passed away — faded from the view, and almost from the memory 
of man. In their low, unnoticed, and unknown graves, they sleep 
well ! Their existence has become a matter of antiquarian research, 
and oft-told legend. Their brief history has been written in desola- 
tion. 

•' Alas, for theui, their day is o'er — 
Tiieir fires are out from shore to shore ! 
No more for themi the wild deer bounds, 
The plow is on their hunting grounds." 

The settlement of Woodbury was the result of difference in reli- 
o-ious opinion, among the inhabitants of Stratford. It was accom- 
plished by one of the most remarkable and brilliant mental conflicts 
that ever occurred in planting a New England town. There were 
giants in those days, for the defence of what they believed to be re- 
ligious truth. The usual reason for settling a new town had ever 
been, that the parent town had become too full to accommodate all 
its inhabitants, and that it was necessary to seek new locations for ex- 
tending the Church of God, and advancing the interests of religious 
freedom. No idea of mere worldly advantage entered the minds of 
the stern and earnest men, who planted our beautiful and ever honored 
town. The first ministers of the colony being dead, and a new gene- 



36 

i-ation coming on the stage of action, alterations in respect to Church 
membership, baptism, and the morle of Church discipline, were im- 
periously demanded. Great dissensions on these subjects accordingly 
arose in the churches at Hartford, Windsor, Wethersfield, and other 
frlaces, and continued in various parts of the Colony, from 1656 to 
about 1 670. It is difficult for us, at this distance of time, fully to 
understand the exact merits of the controversy. Tlie system in dis- 
pute, was called Ihe " Half Way Covenant" system of Church mem- 
bership. Upon this question there was the gravest difference of 
opinion among the most learned and pious men in New England. By 
this plan, a person of good moral character might own or renew the 
covenant of Baptism, confessing the same creed as members of the 
Church in full communion, and affirming his intention of becoming 
truly pious, in heart and in life, have the privilege of presenting him- 
self, children, grand-children, and even his slaves, for baptism, by 
giving a pledge for their religious education. Persons thus owning 
the covenant, were considered members of the Church to all intents 
and purposes, except that they might not come to the communion 
table. For conduct unbecoming church members, they could be, and 
were, dealt with, and punished in the same manner as members in 
full communion. Consequent upon this practice, baptisms followed 
close upon births, generally in from one to eight days, and if the child 
was in danger of "non-continuance," it was baptized on the day of 
its birth. 

In those early days, the choice of pastors was confined exclusively 
to members of the church, though every freeholder was taxed for their 
support ; and nearly all the offices and honors of the Colony of Con- 
necticut, to which Stratford belonged, were distributed to professors 
of religion, who alone, in the New Haven Colony, possessed the right 
of suffrage in meetings of a political character. Din-ing the lives of 
the early colonists, little trouble had arisen on these points, nearly all 
of the first immigrants having been professors of religion. But this 
generation had passed away, and a new one had succeeded, many of 
whom, on account of their not belonging to the church, were excluded 
from their proper influence in the communitv. Most of them had 
been baptized, and by virtue of this, it was claimed that they might 
own their covenant, have their children baptized, and thus perpetuate 
the church, and themselves attain the rank of perfect freemen. Hence 
it may readily be seen why our patriotic forefathers, as well as those 
who were thus excluded from their proper position in the affairs of 
the town and colony, desired such a change in church government as 



37 

would overcome this unjust inequality. All New England became 
interested in this controvei'sy ; and in 1657, it was decided by a 
council of the principal ministers of the colonies, convened at Boston, 
that it was the duty of those, who had come to years of discretion, 
baptized in infancy, to own the covenant ; that it was the duty of the 
Church to call them to do it, and, if they refused, they might be cen- 
sured by the Church. In consequence of this decision, many owned 
their covenant, and presented their children for baptism, but did not 
unite with the church in the celebration of the supper, nor in most 
other duties of members in full communion. Hence it was termed 
the " Half Way Covenant System." 

The Church of Stratford, notwithstanding the Boston decision, 
would not adopt this practice, although a large and influential part of 
its members were in favor of it, together with a majority of the voters 
of the town, who were not church members. Rev. Israel Chauncey, 
son of President Charles Chauncey, of Cambridge, who was opposed 
to this practice, was settled over the Church in 1665, receiving ordi- 
nation in the independent mode. On this account, a large part of the 
Church and town was opposed to his ordination. It was therefore 
agreed, that if after hearing Mr. Chauncey for a certain time, they 
should continue to be dissatisfied with his ministry, the dissenting 
party should be at liberty to call and settle another minister, ~and 
have the same privilege in the Meeting House as the other party. 
Accoi'dingly, after hearing Mr. Chauncey the time agreed on, and 
continuing to be dissatisfied with his ministrations, they invited Rev. 
Zechariah Walker to preach to them, and finally chose him for their 
pastor. Both ministers performed public worship in the same house? 
Mr. Chauncey at the usual hours, while Mr. Walker was allowed two 
hours in the middle of the day. They had been a long time in agree- 
ing upon this arrangement, as will be seen. But it was difficult al- 
ways to confine the services to the exact time allowed, and it soon 
happened, that Mr. Walker exceeded the time limited, one day, to 
such an extent, that Mr. Chauncey and his hearers becoming impa- 
tient, retired to a private house, and there held their afternoon services. 
They were, however, so much displeased, that next day, they went 
over to Fairfield, and made a complaint against Mr. Walker to Major 
Gold, one of the magistrates. The Major, upon hearing the case, 
advised pacific measures, and that Mr. Walker should be allowed 
three hours for his public exercises. Then begun that remarkable 
conflict of master minds, conducted on one side by Rev. Mr. Chaun- 
cey and Phillip Graves, and on the other by Rev. Mr. Walker, Capt. 



38 

John Minor, "the learned and \nous scribe," Hon. Samuel Sherman 
and Lt. Joseph Judson, men of worth and might, whose blood courses 
through the veins of a larger number of persons in this great assem- 
bly, than that of all others put together. I had almost asked, who is 
there here that does not claim some connection with those early foun- 
ders, either by birth or matrimonial ties ! It was a battle of the "gi- 
ants !" Time forbids that I should give full details of this remark- 
able contest. Nor is it necessary, as they are doubtless familiar to 
you all, being set forth with great particularity, in the late history of 
this territory. Suffice it to say, that the efibrts of the dissenting party, 
our fathers, for reconciliation, seem to have been earnest and sincere. 
Their communications to their brethren were couched in respectful 
and Christian tei'ras, and their arguments were not to be easily refuted, 
if at all. Little pains, however, seems to have been taken by the 
iirst Church, during the whole controversy, to answer the reasoning 
of the dissatisfied pai'ty, or to conciliate them ; but it seemed rather 
to throw itself back on its dignity with an intention of allov/ing the 
dissentients to take their own course. The latter had a majority in 
the town meetings, and Dea. John Minor, one of their leaders, was 
Town Clerk during the whole time of the controversy, and for several 
years afterward. This written controversy has been preserved on the 
colony and town records, and is a model of Christian courtesy and 
moderation, well worth the study of all future Church agitators and 
dissenters. Mr. Walkei-'s party earnestly sought an entire union 
with the members of the first Church. Even those in full communion 
offered to be again examined in regard to their " fayth and knowledge," 
in the same manner as upon their first admission, that the Church 
might be convinced their peculiar views had not, in any manner, un- 
dermined their religious principles, or purity of character. When 
this was denied, and after they had called Mr. AValker, they earnestly 
desired to unite the two meetings, and hear both ministers, the more 
especially, as the Meeting House had been built by both parties. To 
unite the two meetings was evidently not the best way of composing 
their differences, although they might not be " fundamental," as was 
admitted by all, for their opinions in regard to church membership, 
were so diverse, they could hardly have been much edified in being 
obliged to listen to the defence of what they did not believe. It would 
be much like the mingling of the worship of the various evangelical 
churches of the present day. While the ministers might confine 
themselves to points on which all were agreed, there would be danger 
of treading, at times, on forbidden ground. 



39 

In September, 1668, the church refused to hear the two ministers 
in joint meeting, and refused further to consider the disputes between 
them till Mr. Walker's party had " procui-ed the approbation of the 
General Court, and the consent of neighboring Churches." In 
November, of the same year, Mr. Walkei-, for his people, replied to 
this communication, in a paper of great power, and informed them 
that they had concluded, " God willing," to occupy their joint proper- 
ty, the Meeting House, a part of each Sabbath, beginning with the 
next Sabbath, and that they would use it during that part of the day 
which Mr. Chauncey's party might determine, but if they did not 
designate, then they would take the latter part of the day. He closed 
the communication with the desire that the "God of Peace" would 
guide the parties to such a course of action as would be for their 
"mutual peace and comfort." The result of this notice was a com- 
promise, by which Mr. Walker was allowed two hours each Sabbath 
for his services in the Meeting House, in the middle of the day, 
between the two services of Mr. Chauncey, till the meeting of the 
General Court in May, 1669. At that session both parties presented 
petitions in relation to their disagreements, particularly in regard to 
the manner in which they should "enjoy the Meeting House." With- 
out reflection, one might say that the readiest way out of the difficulty 
would have been to have built another church. But it must be borne 
in mind that the country was new, and the inhabitants poor. It was 
a great undertaking in their wilderness condition, to erect a suitable 
building, and heavy taxes for years were necessary to be laid to com- 
plete one. The Court took the case into consideration, as requested, 
confirmed the choice of Mr. Chauncey, ordei-ed both parties to choose 
"some indifferent persons of piety and learning to compose their dif- 
ferences," and gave Mr. Walker's party liberty till the October ses- 
sion, to occupy the church three hours each Sabbath, in the middle of 
the day, between the two services of Mr. Chauncey. They could not, 
however, agree upon the points to be submitted to the arbitrators, and 
at the October session, 1669, a resolution was passed by the General 
Court advising the First Church to comply with the desire of Mr. 
Walker's party, to have union services, allowing Mr. Walker to preach 
one part of each Sabbath to the united congregation. Some com- 
munications passed between the parties relative to this advice, but 
Mr. Chauncey's party, instead of granting them the privilege which 
they had so long sought, excluded them from the House entirely, 
after which, they met for public worship in a private house during 
the remainder of their stay at Stratford. In reply to this indignity, 



40 

our fathers merely addressed a letter to the First Church, complain- 
ing of the injustice done them, and proposed to divide the town into 
two parts, that they "might go and live by themselves and have no 
more dissensions." They also notified them that they should apply 
to the next session of the Court to grant them this indulgence. It 
was at this juncture that Governor Winthrop, affected by these unhap- 
py controversies and animosities subsisting in the town, advised that 
Mr. Walker and his people should remove, and that a tract of land 
for the settlement of a new town should be gi'anted for their encour- 
agement and accommodation. Accordingly, the General Court, on 
the 9th of May, 1672, granted to Samuel Sherman, William Curtiss, 
Joseph Judson and John Minor, the leading members of Mr. Walk- 
er's Church, "liberty to erect a plantation at Pomperoage," provided 
that any "other honest inhabitants of Stratford" should have liberty 
to join them in settling there, and provided they should " enterteine 
so many inhabitants as the plantation would conveniently interteine." 

Thus ended a controversy that had agitated the minds of the early 
fathers for about eight years. During the whole of that long period 
of disagreeing opinions, and exciting discussions, it will be found by 
a careful examination of all the details, the future founders of our 
town ever maintained an elevated and christian tone, temper and aim. 
They furnished a model course of action to us, their descendants, on 
all occasions of conflict of interests and opinion. It might be inter- 
esting, did time permit, and it were pertinent to the theme of the 
hour, to inquire whether, in this regard, the sacred mantles of those 
revered Elijahs of the early days, have fallen upon us, their descend- 
ants, the custodians of their moss-grown graves ! Would to God 
we could truly claim their stern, conscientious motives, and command 
of passion, in times when " offenses must come I "' 

It was in the midst of this controversy, early in 1668, that Mr. 
Walker was called to perform pastoral labors among the people of 
the 2nd Church of Stratford, now the First Church of Woodbury. 
For two years he had preached to them without ordination. Among 
the other difficulties under which his friends labored, they had found 
no opportunity to accomplish this desirable point. But being taunted 
by the First Church, on account of their disorganized state, being 
informed that they would hold no further communication with them till 
they wei-e duly organized, and there being no longer any hope of arrange- 
ment with the other pai'ty, they took the steps necessary to " embody 
in Church estate." This they accomplished on the 1st day of May, 
1670, with the approval of the churches of Fairfield, Killingworth, 



41 

and the " new church at Windsor." Mr. Walker was ordained on 
the 5th of May, when twenty male members again publicly owned 
their covenant, the gathering of the church having been done by 
themselves in private, on account of the great opposition to them. 
Seven more male members were admitted a few days after, and ten 
more, six of whom were females, were added previous to the removal 
to Pomperaug, in 1672, a number fully equal to that of most other 
churches at their commencement. This was an honored list of names, 
one to be revered by the dwellers in these fair vales, while time shall 
endure, and they shall retain an emotion of religious sensibility, or 
filial gratitude. 

The initial point from which dates the existence of Woodbury, was 
the grant of the General Court, in accordance with Gov. Winthrop's 
recommendation, in 1672. As this grant was not made till the May 
Session, it was too late for our forefathers to move their families into 
the wilderness that year; but the preliminary arrangements were 
immediately commenced, and it is relate4 that a few of the proprie- 
tors came here, and raised some corn, which they stored in log cribs, 
but when they returned next spring, with fifteen families, they 
found that the wild beasts or Indians had rifled them of their con- 
tents. By some mistake, the pioneer company passed the Pompe- 
raug, in their journey, and followed up the Shepaug some miles till 
they discovered their error, when they made the best of their way 
over the hills to this valley. Arrived upon yonder Good Hill, they 
perceived the valley of the Pomperaug lying below in solitude and 
silence. Great was the joy of these pioneers of our town, on this 
discovery, and it is related that Dea. John Minor fell on his knees, 
leading in prayer that little band of hardy adventurers, invoking the 
blessing of Heaven upon their enterprise, and praying that their pos- 
terity might be an upright and godly people to the latest generation. 
So far as the good deacon's own posterity is concerned, his prayer 
seems to have been answered, for it has never since been without a 
Deacon to proffer the same petition ! And on the morrow, at that 
sacred retreat, the "Bethel Rock" of our fathers, you will have the 
opportunity of listening to the same pious aspirations from one of his 
lineal descendants, inheritor of his revered surname and honorable 
office ! 

The pioneers encamped the first night on Good Hill. Tlie next 

day they proceeded to the valleys, to examine and take possession of 

their lands, and encamped the second night beneath the spreading 

branches of a large white oak, which has given its name to the local- 

6 



43 



<ty, and pieces of its trunk, Jong since prostrated by the tempest are 
no» ,n the possession of many persons, preserved with reliZf ca" 
a n,eme„t„es of that historic old tree. After having exam „ed Z 
whole valley Iron, East Meadow to the intervales below " Whi e Oak 

ne":;: i : ::'"° T, '"^'»" '■■^" '-^'"8"«- ^onnewang Fall 
nearly ,„ the Inteof the present Main Street, by Pomperaug's grave 

~::r:V'''''' °" "-^ «°-»'""'-=' "-^ ^'-^-^ «'*':::; 

pern,a„ently and prepared to build their first rude habitations. We 
have full evidence from the Colony records, that the intervales „„ he 

n^ZZ^fr'"".':"""'' """^'^ '«^^'"^ "»'• ^-" ct 
t.vated by the Indians before our fathers removed here. So the land 

was m some n,c,.ure prepared for their occupation. All th<^r dwel- 

Imgs, at first, were built of logs, the neares saw-mill beinJ at the 

less wood.. But these habitations passed away with the first 
generation and comfortable frame dwellings took tbdr places The 
flis framed house was located in Jndson Lane, a few Js west of th 
Fust Congregational Church. They were built in a substantial 
manner, in the old lean-to style, the back roof running nearly otie 
ground, and were covered -with rent oak clapboards! Even "he 
dwellings of the leading men would be conside ed rude ones at least 
at the present day But our fathers came to this wildernela to ly 
the ordinances of God, according to the dictates of their own eoZ 
sciences, and to extend His Church-not to gratify worldly am- 

Among the preparations which the early fathers made for their 
removal hithei-^ was a code of laws, or articles of agreement for their 
government after their arrival at the place of destination, quite as 
carefully urawii as that written covenant, entered into by the Pilgrim, 
before they left the Mayflower to pitch their tents in this western 
and, the goal of all their hopes and prayers. This model consttu" 
tion, containing all the elements of civilization, justice, and religious 
liberty, has been preserved to „s entire. It is the perfect germ 
containing al the elements of our later republican constitutions I 
was most truly a form of government founded upon the "consent of 
the governed -aye, the written consent. It provided that as many 
persons should be admitted into the plantation, as could be comfort^ 
ably accommodated, and that all public charges, civil and ecclesiasti- 
cal, should be borne in proportion to the size of their home-lols, the 
largest being .wenty-flve, and the smallest ten acres, while a bache- 
lors right could be no more than five acres, just half that of the least 



43 

opulent married man ! Poor, old bachelor — unmated specimen of 
humanity ! He was considered of little account in a new community 
in the forest, where the legitimate increase of the population was a 
prime necessity ! It was further provided, that considerable tracts of 
land should be set apart for the support of the preaching of the 
gospel, and also, in the quaint language of the original instrument, 
" a parsell of land for ye Incouriging a Schoole, yt learning may not 
be neglected to children." Each was obliged to pay his pro rata part 
of the purchase of the plantation, the expenses of removal, and all 
other public charges, within ten months after his home-lot was laid 
out to him, in wheat, peas, and pork, in equal proportions. Lastly, 
and above all, it was stipulated, that for the purpose of remaining in 
the " peaceable enjoyment of that way of Church discipline which 
they were persuaded is according to God," they engaged, each for 
himself, not to disturb the peace of the plantation, but to subject 
themselves, personally, " to that Ecclesiastical Government, that 
should be there established, or practiced agreeably to ye Word of 
God." 

These articles were subscribed, March 20, 1672-3, by seventeen 
of our forefathers, whose names should be written in letters of living 
light ! Sherman, Judson, Minor, Curtiss, Wheeler, Wyatt, Styles, 
Hinman, Jenkins, Johnson, Munu, Terrill, Knowles, Fairchild, we 
fain would call your sainted shades from the regions of the blest, for 
one brief moment, that we might here and now render appropriate 
homage to your ever-brilliant and glorious example ! But three of 
your illustrious names have ceased to have living representatives in 
this fair territory you did so much to improve and bless. Truly has 
the Scripture been fulfilled, in your former seats — " I have never 
seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread ! " Look 
kindly down upon us, assembled here with filial hearts and fond 
recollections, and breathe a fervent benison from your celestial 
homes! 

A moment's examination will show the wisdom of the provisions 
of the first solemn governmental covenant. The committee of prin- 
cipal men composed a Court to judge between man and man, doing 
justice according to the letter of God's " written word," until a town 
should be organized under the jurisdiction of magistrates, " who are 
appointed of God." Imagine to yourselves such a Court of God, sit- 
ting in solemn state, in the midst of these virgin wilds and pathless 
forests ! 

There was a restriction as to the quantity of land which a proprie- 



44 

tor might have. No one could have more than twenty-five acres for 
his home-lot, and other divisions in proportion, while the poorest mar- 
ried man was entitled to ten ; so that a few rich planters could not 
control the colony. It was desirable in those early days of danger 
from savage men and wild beasts, for the inhabitants to live near 
together. Their home-lots were laid out on both sides of the street 
with narrow fronts, to bring their houses near each other for mutual 
jjrotection. 

From these articles we learn that here, as in all other early New 
England towns, the settlers had a particular regard for the establish- 
ment of rehgious institutions. It was their design to erect churches 
in strict conformity to scripture example, and to transmit evangelical 
purity, in doctrine, worship and discipline, with civil and religious 
Hberty, to their posterity. So great was the attention paid to These 
interesting points, that they not only made ample provision for the 
minister, who was to remove with them, but they also sequestered 
lands for the future support of the ministry, which went under the 
name of the " parsonage lands." 

Another truly New England feature in this their first solemn agree- 
ment, is seen in the ample provision made for a school, " that learn- 
ing might not be neglected to the children." Our fathers, though living 
under Kingly rule, were republicans, rejecting with abhorrence the doc- 
trines of the divine right of Kings, passive obedience and non-resis- 
tance. Upon these principles they formed their civil institutions. 
They thought the church should be accompanied by the school-house, 
rehgious principle by an educated and ennobled understanding. In 
this way, they judged, intelligence and good morals could best be 
propagated. 

We notice, also, the poverty of our ancestors at this time, and the 
entire want of a metalic, or paper currency. All the expenses grow- 
ing out of the purchase and settlement of the plantation, were to be 
paid in wheat, peas and pork, in equal proportions, as to value, and 
if any settler was so poor that he could not obtain a surplus of these, 
beyond the wants of his own family, then he was to pay in other arti- 
cles to the satisfaction of the committee having charge of the expen- 
ses of the settlement. 

It might, to the careless observer, seem frivolous to have a celebra- 
tion, and deliver long addresses in commemoration of so trivial an 
affair as the founding of a single town. The satisfactory answer is 
that the limits of our town comprised a whole county, and that the 
number, worth and standing of the noble men that founded it, and 



45 

removed here during the first two years of its settlement, was fully 
equal to that of most of the New England colonies at the date of 
their settlement. There were but forty-one signers to the articles on 
board of the May Flower, on the 11th of November, 1620, for the 
founding of the ever celebrated colony of Plymouth, the pioneer colo- 
ny to our immense continent, save the failure of Jamestown, Va. 
The first grant of the entire colony of Connecticut was made to eleven 
persons, and the first three towns in 1635, were settled by about sixty 
persons, men, women and children, or twenty to each town, a much 
smaller number than that which first colonized Woodbury. Roger 
Williams pitched his tent at Providence, founded Rhode Island, and 
formed a body politic for the advancement of religious freedom, when 
his followers, including himself, numbered only eighteen. Massachu- 
setts Bay colony had a still smaller beginning. At first, it was nearly 
a failure, and for a considerable time was held only by Roger Conant 
and three other " disheartened companions," and yet in his lofty trust, 
he believed that " God would make this land a receptacle for his 
people." Let it not be considered, then, that the founding of Wood- 
bury was an inconsiderable, or trivial affair. The history of an 
early Connecticut town is the history of a Colony, a State, or the 
Union, in miniature. In no way can we form so accurate an estimate 
of the dangers and difficulties that beset our fathers, the hardships 
borne, and the labors performed, to secure the liberty and unnum- 
bered blessings, which we now enjoy, as by a perfect history of the 
events and struggles of such a town. 

In these days of civilization and refinement, surrounded by the 
comforts, conveniences and luxuries of life, we can little estimate the 
hardships and difficulties encountered by the sainted men and women 
who first trod these smiling valleys, subdued the uncompromising wil- 
derness, and made the howling Avastes to " bud and blossom as the 
rose." Here they came, in their lofty trust, having no cover for their 
heads but the over-arching heavens, no lodgings for their weary and 
travel-worn bodies but such as nature afforded. The men of the 
present day may carelessly smile at the idea of our fathers' thinking 
so much of a journey to or from the sea-coast, or even from Wood- 
bury to Bethlem, as we are told they did. But they forget the obsta- 
cles and dangers they had to encounter. They forget there were no 
public roads, and no vehicles, that could be employed for the trans- 
portation of their goods. There were no railroads, nor steamboats, 
running in all directions with the swiftness of the wind. The first 
females, as well as the males, went on foot, or on horseback, through 



46 

a trackless wilderness, guided by marks upon trees, or feeling their 
way, wherever they could find room to pass. In the midst of the 
first drear winter their provisions gave out, and some of the settlers 
were obliged to take their way through the pathless forests to the 
older settlements for food to sustain them during the remaining wintry 
months. Some of those sturdy men went to Stratford, a distance of 
twenty-five miles, with hand-sleds, and returned laden with coi'n for 
their pressing necessities. We can have but a faint idea of the dan- 
gers that surrounded those early founders, on such a journey, exposed 
to all the perils and privations of those interior forests. They were 
surrounded by numerous red men, fierce and cruel, who could have 
destroyed them at any hour, in their isolated and feeble condition. 
Added to their lack of bread, the pioneers had neither dwellings, nor 
clothing sufficient to prevent suflfering. Should any emergency hap- 
pen, they were cut off from any succor, or eiFective retreat. What 
a sad beginning had these now fair and opulent towns on the Pom- 
peraug and Shepaug ! 

It was necessary to erect and fortify houses, to make roads for 
their convenience to the parent town, that in times of danger they 
might fly for safety, and to spend much time in watchings, trainings, 
and preparation for the defense of themselves and children. Every 
thing was to be constructed from rude materials, or brought from a 
great distance, and procured at a dear rate. There could be no safe- 
ty but in constant preparation, for any emergency that might arise. 
They were obliged, with little previous knowledge of the art, to break 
ground on bare creation, drawing their subsistence from an unwilling, 
virgin soil ! That fifteen families, in the wilderness, before they had 
time to provide for their own pressing wants, should undertake to 
support a minister of the Gospel, shows the enduring confidence, the 
lofty trust of those men of iron nerve ! They had no shipping, and 
nothing to export. Every thing must be manufactured by themselves, 
or they must go without the indispensable necessaries of life. They 
being only tillers of the soil, must become their own carpenters, black- 
smiths, shoemakers, clothiers and tailors ! And in one respect it was 
well. They thus learned the dignity of labor, in every department. 
"The grim present was lowering upon them with all its sharp and 
angular realities." 

But they accepted the chances, with a firm reliance on Providence. 
Amid all their ditficulties they forgot not the reverence due their 
holy religion. So strict were they in their religious views, and so 
high was their regard for the Sabbath, that they scrupled even to 



47 

call the first day of the week by its heathen, or idolatrous name of 
Sun-day, and they always, when they had occasion to allude to the 
day, called it either the Lord's day or the Sabbath. For the same 
reason, Monday was called the second day, Tuesday the third day, 
and so of the test. That they might not acknowledge, in the least 
degree, the authority of the Pope, in speaking of the apostles, Peter 
and Paul, they invariably omitted the prefix, " Saint," and even the 
poor isle of St. Christopher's had its saintly prefix similarly disposed 
of, and left in obscurity. 

It has been seen that all the ideas of our fathers were essentially 
religious, and that the pious sentiment entered into everything. 
Even in the exhibitions of the tender emotions, and in the prelim- 
inary ceremonies of a matrimonial alliance, they ever exhibited the 
same grave countenance, and air of devotion, as when going to a 
prayer-meeeting. Perhaps they were the only people who treated 
the subject with the consideration due to that most important and 
indissoluble union of " Kindred hearts." But the " course of true 
love " was usually urgent. There was no time for " billing and coo- 
ing," much less for vain flirtations ! As an instance of the way in 
which the thing was done, take the following characteristic example : 
John Minor, Jr., being seriously inclined, by the state of his aflPec- 
tions, unto the blooming and comely damsel, Sarah Judson, imme- 
diately mounted his horse, with a deer-skin for a saddle, and rode over 
in front of the house of the fair Sarah's father. Without dismount- 
ing, he sent for her to come out to him, and on her complying with 
the request, he informed her plainly, that the Lord had sent him 
to marry her. At this startling announcement, the sensible maid, 
neither fainting in the present fashionable mode, nor asking time to 
consult her mamma, replied with hearty good will, " Here is the 
handmaid of the Lord — His will be done ! " What else could the 
maiden do ; for John was a good man, and she believed both him 
and his message ! There was nothing more to be done, than to get 
on horseback the next Sabbath eve, and sitting on a pillion, behind 
her messenger fi'om the Lord, ride to the parsonage, and be duly join- 
ed in the holy bonds of wedlock. Of the fruits of that primitive 
marriage, there are many representatives here to-day I 

Doubtless the question has often occurred to each of us, how did 
our fathers and mother's dress ? What were their costumes and fash 
ions ? By the indefatigable exertions of our "Antique Committee," 
this question has been very satisfactorily answered here to-day, by 
their actual, not "counterfeit presentment." You have seen an 



48 

" early father," a fine old English gentleman, in small clothes and 
coat of brown silk, white plaited rufles, powdered hair, and cocked 
hat. You have seen an "early mother," in ash-colored brocade, 
with white damask skirt, open in front, high-heeled shoes, with lai-ge 
buckles, and an enormous bonnet. You hare seen the Puritan cos- 
tume contrasted with that of the Cavalier of the same age. But these 
were the holiday suits, brought from old England, and belonging only 
to the more opulent citizens. After the first settlement here, such 
rich articles for long years were "rarities under the sun." All the 
garments of both sexes were of homespun, of their own manufacture, 
from the raw material to the perfected garment. The small clothes, 
and even the coats of the men were often made of deer-skins and 
leather. Nothing is more commonly mentioned in the early invento- 
ries of estates. And yet, amid all this rigid simplicity, the General 
Court, four years after the settling of Woodbury, passed an act against 
the excess of apparel among the people, as " unbecoming a wilderness 
condition, and the profession of the gospel ; " ordering, that any per- 
son who should wear any clothing, that should be " apparently beyond 
the necessary end of apparel for covering, or comelhiess," should, on 
due conviction, forfeit te7i shillings for every oifence ! How great a 
commotion would be made by the j^assage of stick a law, in these 
days of expanded crinoline, and of lengthened Shanghai coats ! 

So numerous had the arrivals of our ancestors become in the new 
plantation of Pomperaug, during the year 1673, that at the May 
session of the General Court, in 1674, it Avas made a town, called 
Woodbuiy, and exempted from taxes for four years. In May, 1675, 
a committee was appointed to lay out a I'oad to Derby, and Stratford 
was ordered to construct a road to the same place. Tliis committee 
did not report till May, 1677, and it is probable, that it was not com- 
pleted under several years. So that the settlers remained secluded 
fi-om all the world for many years. 

But far more serious evils awaited the adventurous pioneers in this 
" dwelling place of the wood." In June, 1675, King Philip's war 
broke out, and filled this and the neighboring colonies with the gloom 
and terror, whicli always accompany Indian warfare. The startling 
intelligence of a general combination of all the eastern tribes for the 
utter extermination of the white race, fell with a sad cadence on the 
aflfiicted ears of our fathers. Piiilip with his fierce band of relentless 
warriors, appeared suddenly on the scene of action, and misery and 
destruction followed in his trail. Every portion of the colony suffered 
from the predatory excursions of the savages, and continual alarms. 



49 

The frontier towns, like Woodbury, were particularly exposed to de- 
struction. The General Court, deeply affected with the apparent 
danger, enacted military regulations of the most careful and rigorous 
kind. It was equivalent to putting the whole colony under martial 
law. Sixty soldiers were to be raised in each county, places for de- 
fence and refuge to be immediately fortified in every plantation, dis- 
obedience of orders in time of attack to be punished with death, and 
no male, between the ages of fourteen and seventy, to be suffered to 
leave the colony without permission. Each plantation was obliged to 
keep a sufficient watch from sunset to sunrise, and to keep one-fourth 
of the town in arms every day, taking regular turns. The watch was 
directed to call up every man in the town, an hour before day, and 
each one was directed to arm himself, repair to his appointed ward, 
and there stand guard, ready to repel any attack till half an hour 
after sunrise, when the " warders " again took their places. Scouts 
on horseback were also sent into the woods each day to look for the 
foe, with directions to go only so far as to enable them to return by 
nightfall. These orders were carried out with alacrity, by our town. 
This was then the most remote north-western town in the colony, and 
one of the most exposed. It was known, both by the whites and Indians, 
that persons sleep soundest just before dawn, and hence the order that 
every inhabitant should be awakened by the watch, and called to arms 
an hour before day. Guards were stationed on Lodge, Orenaug and 
Castle Rocks, to watch for the enemy, and protect the inhabitants. 
Fortified houses were erected on Lodge Rock, and near Mr. Nathan 
Warner's dwelling-house in Judson Lane, to receive the settlers in 
case of assault. It is more than difficult, at this distance of time, to 
realize the trials and alarms, which must exist in feeble communities, 
reminded each naorning of their desperate condition by regulations of 
such severity, as those that had been adopted. Every effort was made 
for the public safety, but the dangers thickened so darkly around them, 
that the settlers were obliged, early in the summer, to remove their 
wives and little ones to Stratford, " a place," as stated in their char- 
acteristic language, " of more hopeful security." This was rendered 
the more necessary, because their men, as often as they went to the 
"sea-side towns" on their necessary business, were pressed into the 
service. So that, as we learn from an autograph letter of Rev. Mr. 
Walker, in October, 1676, a greater number of men from Woodbury, 
proportioned to its population, was engaged in Philip's war, than from 
any other town in the colony. Notwithstanding all these discourage- 
ments and dangers, our fathers, after having conducted their house- 
7 



50 

hold flocks to Stratford, returned to Woodbury, raised and secured 
their crops, and carried them to Stratford in the autumn. 

But the plantation was by no means given up. During the year 

1677, the inhabitants slowly returned to the new settlement. In May> 

1678, the General Court ordered the remainder to return by the 1st 
of November, on pain of forfeiting their lands in the town. Imme- 
diately after this, the town passed a vote, that the order of the court 
should be strictly enforced, and requested the Town Clerk to write a 
letter to those who neglected to return, urging them to come back to 
their lands. In wintinsthis letter, the clerk, Capt. John Minor, urged 
them to return, saying, " Friends, it is far from our desire, that any 
of you should be abused by this act of ours. We covet not your 
I;mds but your company. We desire not to dis[)lease any of you, but 
if we cannot please you upon lower terms than by undoing ourselves, 
we assure you that we cannot come to that price." This action of 
the court and town brought the wandering children home. In June 
of this year, Mr Walker came with his family to reside permanently 
with his people at Woodbury. Previous to this time, his family had 
resided at Stratford, and he had ministered at both places as occasion 
required. The house-holders at this time probably numbered about 
sixty. It is known that there were as many as that four years later. 
This would show the whole population to be about three or four hun- 
dred. 

Previous to this date, they had had no corn mill, and had no flour 
or meal, except such as they could get occasionally at Stratford- 
Even on wedding occasions, those times of great interest among all 
nations, the principal dishes, at the marriage feast, were bean por- 
ridge for the soup, and for the other courses, an enormous plate of pork 
and beans. How would such a wedding entertainment suit the notions 
of our lady friends of the present day ? They would, indeed, feel that 
they had fallen on evil times ! There is but one late instance on re- 
cord, in this town, of keeping up this time-honored custom of our Pu- 
ritan mothers, and that occurred a few years ago up in Flanders, on 
the occasion of the marriage of a certain military gentleman, who 
bears one of Woodbury's early and honored names. 

But this deprivation was too gi'eat to be borne by our fathers, and 
accordingly, they procured a set of small mill-stones at Stratford, so 
diminutive in size, that they brought them here through the forests 
on horseback, ihey prepared mill-gearing, built a small shed on 
Middle Quarter Brook, a few rods easterly from Dea. Eli Summers' 
house, and set their mill in operation. It is said that when it was in 



51 

complete running order, it would grind the enormous quantity of one 
bushel per day. Great was the rejoicing of our fathers, when this 
vast improvement was achieved. Each settler, in turn, carried his 
grist to the mill in the morning, set it in motion, and went for the meal 
at night. And here, my friends, is one of those self-same mill-stones !* 
Here is a highly interesting relic of the early days, which carries us 
back in memory to the long ended toils and sufferings of our fathers. 
Long let this I'ude memorial be preserved as a rare and sacred frag- 
ment, which has escaped the ravages of " time's effacing finger !" 

The next important event was the erection of a house of public 
worship. As soon as the settlers were located, and began to have 
some of the comforts and conveniences of life, their thoughts naturally 
turned to this prime object in a New England plantation, in which 
they might enjoy the ministrations of the gospel. In the early years 
of their settlement, they had worshipped in each others' houses, in 
the inclement months of the year, and during the summer months, 
had convened in the stillness of the Sabbath morn, in a beautiful and 
retired spot, on the East side of the Orenaug Rocks, between the 
cliffs, with their sentinels placed on the top of the adjacent rocks, to 
guard against surprise from savage foes, and there made " the sound- 
ing aisles of the dim woods " vocal with the high praises of God. By 
the rude, pulpit-like boulder, still standing in that lonely dell, we may, 
in imagination, see the faithful Walker addressing his attentive hear- 
ers, and delivering to them the words of " truth and soberness." 
This spot received the name of Bethel Rock from this circumstance, 
and has ever been held as a consecrated place by the descendants of 
those early Christian fathers, whither they have, at times, resorted, 
for meditation and prayer, to the present day. 

The first thing to be done was to determine the location of the 
new house. The church selected Deputy Governor Robert Treat, 
afterwards Governor of the Colony, and Major Nathan Gold, as a 
committee to fix the location. They met here 178 years ago to-day, 
to hear the matter, and to-morrow, we shall celebrate the anniversary 
of the " pitching down the stake," on the spot now occupied by the 
carriage-house of our worthy president, where they built the first 
Meeting House, in which our fathers worshipped for the long period 
of sixty-six years in the Congregational mode, and afterwards, for 

* At this moment the cloth was removed from the speaker's desk, and one of 
the mill stones was disclosed to view, from which uncovered, the remainder of the 
address was read, as well as the other addresses of the occasion. 



52 

thirty-eight years in the Episcopal mode. The seats in this edifice 
were raised one above another, on either side of the center of the 
house, the pulpit being, as usual, at the end of the house opposite the 
entrance. The people were called to church, on the Sabbath, by the 
beat of a drum upon the rock on which the Masonic Lodge stands. 
The same insti'ument was used to call the people together on other 
days in the week, and for other purposes. It beat for town meetings, 
for the assembling of the train-band, and in cases of alarm in time ol' 
war. There was a particular beat for each of these occasions ; but 
what was the difference in the roll of the drum ecclesiastical, the drum 
military, and the drum civil, is not now known. The people carried 
their arms to church, and some guarded the sanctuary, while the others 
worshipped the " Lord of Hosts." 

Within the walls of this edifice, Mr. Walker continued to labor till 
his death, which occurred Jan. 20, 1699-1700, or Jan. 31, 1700, ac- 
cording to new style. He was a man of solid attainments, a fervid 
and powerful preacher, greatly beloved by the people of his chai'ge. 
He conducted the affairs of his church with commendable discretion, 
and both that and the infant town flourished during his administration. 
Under him the church had secured a firm foundation, notwithstanding 
all the trials and hardships that beset its earlier years. After a life 
of usefulness, " y* faithful, worthy, beloved Minister of the Gospel, 
and much lamented Pastor of y" Chh of Christ," was gathered to bis 
fathers, and his remains repose in the Southern part of the ancient 
burial-ground. He sleeps amid the faithful flock to whom he minis- 
tered in life. A rude head-stone of native rock, containing only his 
name and the date of his death, so worn and obliterated by the storms 
of 160 years, that the name can scai'cely be deciphered, is all that 
remains to mark the place of sepulture of this " early founder." 
Often, as I have passed with silent, thoughtful feet, the lowly grave 
which holds his sacred dust till the resurrection morn, I have had a 
solemn, passing thought, that this hallowed spot deserved a fitting 
memorial ! It may seem strange to the casual visitor within our 
borders, that the town he so much improved, blessed and honored by 
his public and private virtues, has not long since erected a fit and fil- 
ial monument to the memory of its earliest, and most faithful servant. 
It is to be hoped, that the day is not far distant, when this debt of 
gratitude shall have been paid. 

In 1700, Rev. Anthony Stoddard commenced preaching to the 
people, and in 1702, was ordained over the church. Rev. Mr. 
Chauncey, of Stratford, having forgotten all former difficulties, was 



53 . 

one of the officiating clergymen on the occasion. The town built 
him a house, commencing its erection in 1700, and it still stands at 
the lowei- end of the village, in the midst of this beautiful valley, 
with the hoary Castle Rock for a back ground. It is a venerable 
relic of the early days of the town — one of the few links connecting 
us with a former generation ! It is a thing of history in a historical 
locality. Long may it remain to remind us of the virtues of the de- 
parted, and of all that is valuable in the past. 

The ministry of Mr. Stoddard was remarkable for its duration, and 
the prosperity which attended it. From the date of his first sermon, 
as a candidate, to his last, immediately preceding the brief illness 
tliat terminated his useful labors, he numbered sixty years in his 
holy calHng, and great peace and harmony ever prevailed under his 
administrations. The number of communicants was always large, 
notwithstanding four large societies were taken fi'om his limits during 
his ministry. These were Southbury in 1730, Bethlehem in 1739, 
Judea in 1741, and Roxbury in 1743. The good work seemed con- 
stantly to glow under his hands, with a steadiness rarely equaled. 
The whole number by him admitted to full communion, was 474, to 
the half way covenant, 142, and 1540 received baptism at his hands. 

To his ministerial labors he joined those of a lawyer and physi- 
cian. Like many of the early ministers, he prepared himself for the 
practice of medicine, that he might administer to the wants of the 
body as well as those of the mind. In this capacity he was often 
called. He acquired "a very good legal knowledge for those early 
days. This was the more necessary, as at the beginning of the 
eighteenth century, there were but few lawyers in the Colony, and as 
late as 1730, an act was passed limiting the number of lawyers, that 
might practice, to three in Hartford County, and two in each of the 
other counties. He was Clerk of Probate for a period of forty years, 
during which time he drew most of the wiUs of his parishioners, and 
did the greater part of the business of the office, the Judge for the 
time being, approving his acts. All the records of the Court, during 
the time he was Clerk, appear in his hand writing. He was also one 
of the largest farmers in the town. After a life of arduous and suc- 
cessful labor, the second pastor, at a good old age, entered into his 
rest. He died, Sept. 6, 1760, in the 83d year of his age, and the 
61st of his ministry, after a severe illness of "about two days con- 
tinuance." He lived and died enshrined in the hearts of his people. 
He lies buried in the central part of the old burial-ground, and there 
reposes, surrounded by a numerous congregation, slumbering in death, 



54 

very many of whom he himself had followed to the grave. As in 
life he was ever united to his people, so in death, they are not divided. 
There let them rest together, till the last " great trump " shall call 
them to a bright re-union around the throne of God. 

For a period of more than fifty-seven years after the first settle- 
ment of Pomperaug, the inhabitants had formed but one ecclesiastical 
society. On the day of sacred rest, and on other occasions, the 
hardy pioneers of this forest town had assembled in the old meeting- 
house of the "Ancient Society " in this lovely valley, and offered up 
their devotions to the ever-living God, as an " undivided whole." 
For six or eight miles in all directions, these men of God descended 
from the breezy, life-invigorating hills, and emerged from their rural 
homes in the sweet valleys, hastening " to the temple," to worship 
the benign Ruler of the universe. In storm and in sunshine, in 
Bummer's heat and winter's cold, they " performed their vows," and 
forgot not the "assembling of themselves together." Amidst the 
wilds they sung, and the stars heard, and the lea ! Their affections, 
during this long period, had entwined themselves around the " old 
sanctuary." They loved their old pastor, and scarcely the great 
inconveniences suffered by the remote parts of the town could induce 
them to think of forming new societies, and new church relations. 

But the time at length came, when it seemed necessary for them 
to separate, and attempt the formation of new societies, and the 
burden of supporting other ministers. In addition to the four new 
societies already mentioned, that had been constituted from the terri- 
tory of the first society. South Britain was set off and incorporated a 
society in 1766, and still later, Oxford and Middlebury societies were 
formed, in part from its territory. All these societies were the germs 
of new towns. Judea, together with the society of New Preston, was 
made a town in January, 1779. It was the first town in the State, 
incorporated after the Declaration of Independence, and was called 
Washington, in honor of the Commander-in-chief of the American 
armies. Southbury and Bethlem were incorporated in 1787, Rox- 
bury in 1796, Oxford in 1798, and Middlebury in 1807. All these 
societies and towns vs-ere planted by the good old pioneer stock, men 
accustomed to the privations of the wilderness. In 1816, another 
large and flourishing church was formed out of the First Church, and 
it was incorporated under tlie name of the " Strict Congregational 
Society," with the same territorial limits as the first society. 

For nearly seventy years after the first settling of the town, there 
were no churches within its limits, except those of the Congrega- 



55 

tional. or " Standing Order/' Our fatheirs emigrated to this cocmtry 
to enjoj their religion, not only free from persectrtion, but without 
interruption from Christians of different sentiments They were 
desirous, as all churches had been before them, of maintaiiung a 
uniformity of doctrine and worship. Correct views of religious lib- 
erty were not then held in any Christian country, and toleration 
was not a virtue of that age. But our fathers were far in advance of 
the rest of the world in learning and adopting that truly Christiaja 
virtue. By the very first code of laws ever published in the colony, 
in 1672, all denominations of Christians were allowed to worship 
God in their own way, provided they did not commit a breach of the 
peace. It is true, that all were obliged to contribute to the support 
of the regular minister ; but this was but the carr>-ing out of a con- 
tract on the part of the people, for the only price they paid for their 
lands consisted in bearing their pro rata share of the amount paid 
the Indians, the joint expenses of removal, the expense of building 
roads, bridges, school-houses, churches, and the support of that mode 
of worship unanimously established by the first founders' of the sev- 
ei-al towns. New comers, who, as soon as they came, were admitted 
to all the privileges of the origin:.il planters, had no right to complain 
of the necessity of bearing the same bui-dens as the rest. But at a 
very early day, even this provision was changed, so that every one 
paid his tax to the pastor of his choice. 

A short time previous to 1740, some few families in this town 
adopted the sentiments of the Church of England, and at this date 
were occasionally supplied by the ministers of the '' Society for the 
Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts.'' Soon after this a 
church edifice was erected in the town on the hill between Transyl- 
vania and the present center of Roxbury. After the erection of the 
second Congregational Church, in 1747, near 3[rs. J. P. Marshall's 
house, the old church was used by the Episcopalians for public wor- 
ship, till the erection of their present church, in 1785. In 1771, 
Rev. John R. Marshall assumed the charge of the parish, having 
been oi'dained by the Bishop of London the same year. The parish 
riourished under his administrations, and by his piety, devotion, ad- 
dress and perseverance, he laid the foundations, deep and sure, of 
this now fiourishing Church. Besides St. Paul's Church, "WcKnlbury, 
there are, in the ancient territory, Christ Church, Roxbury, St. John's 
Church, "Washington, and Christ Church, Bethleni. 

As early as 1790, services of the Methoilist Church were held in 
Woodbury, at first in the open air under Lodge Rock, by Rev. Sam- 



56 

uel Wigdon, and afterwards, for about twenty years, in the dwelling 
house of "Father" Elijah Sherman, till the erection of a church 
edifice, and two other flourishing churches of this name exist in 
Southbury. But neither the time, nor the design of this address 
allows me to give a history of any of the later incidents of the town. 
I propose to treat only of those great historical events, in which all 
the constituent parts of the town were interested, and in which all 
agreed — all bore honorable part. 

One of the few luxuries of the early fathers was the fruit of the 
orchard, and the beverage made from it. The apple-tree was the 
constant attendant of the early founders of towns, and followed them 
in all their wanderings. They made haste, not only to " sit under 
their own vine," but as soon as possible, with equal satisfaction, to sit 
under their own apple-trees. Nor, with all their stern morality, does 
it appear that they had the fear of a " Maine Law " before their 
eyes, for they freely granted the privilege of erecting " cyder mills," 
even in the highways, the place of greatest notoriety and temptation. 
These privileges were doubtless granted as a sort of set-off against 
their prohibitory law, which enacted that if any " Barbadoes liquors, 
commonly called Rum, Kill-Divell, or the like," should be landed in 
any jjart of the colony, it should be confiscated. There had been a 
still earlier law among the Pilgrims, abolishing the " vain custom of 
drinking one to another," assigning as reasons for the act, that " it 
was a thing of no good use," was an inducement to drunkenness, 
" occasioned much waste of wine and beer," and forced masters and 
mistresses " to drink more often than they would." 1 believe that the 
reasons given hold good to the present day, but our sage legislators 
never give a reason for their legislation. 

Would you believe that Connecticut was ever a slave State, and 
that in this sequestered spot, in these religious vales, in this Puritanic 
" dwelling-place in the wood," have been heard the " clanking chains 
of slavery " ? "Without thought, it would appear incredible to us, 
who now have such a horror of that institution. Yet it is but eleven 
years since it was formally abolished. It is more than sixty years, 
however, since the institution in this State had even a " name to live." 
It is difficult for us, with our present ideas, to believe that thei-e ever 
was such a state of public opinion here that the sainted Walker, 
Stoddard, and Marshall could be slaveholders ; and yet such is 
the fact. All the leading men, and men of propert}', in the early 
days, owned slaves. The fact is attested by all our records, town, 
probate, and ecclesiastical. Nothing was more common in the eai-ly 



57 

inventories, than tlie item of slaves, nor in distributions, than whole 
or fractional parts of slaves to the heirs. It is ti'ue, that they were 
treated kindly, educated, presented in baptism, their religious inter- 
ests cared for, standing rather in the light of children of the house- 
hold, than that of slaves, yet they were such, bought and sold, and 
at the will and pleasure of their owners. During the whole of the 
eighteenth centui'y, the institution ilQurished here, though in a mild 
form. They became attached, in many instances, to the place where 
they had been brought up, and some of them lingered around the "old 
homestead," long after they were entitled to go free by virtue of law. 
In the war of the Revolution, freedom was granted to all slaves who 
would enlist and serve during the war. To avail themselves of this 
provision, some twenty-live of their number in this town enlisted, at 
various periods of the war, and made good soldiers, fighting valiantly 
for the liberties of the country. Several of these, having survived 
the perils of the war, i-eturned and resided in Woodbury, and received 
pensions from the General Government, in common with others, for 
their military services. 

Thus have we slowly traced our way through the long years of the 
dim, dusty records of the early fathers, and we cannot leave these 
communings with the past without regret. We part with the actors 
and their deeds as with old friends with whom we have journeyed 
long. There is an interest lingering about the history, sayings and 
doings of those iron-hearted men, which belongs to no later genera- 
tion. The most trivial details in regard to them seem important, and 
we gather them up with ever-increasing admiration. It was they 
who subdued this wilderness land, and established here our happy 
homes, and the germ of our enduring liberties. It was they who laid 
here the foundations, deep and broad, of our religious institutions, and 
when they themselves had no " temple made with hands " in which 
to worship the God of their fathers, led their children to that secluded 
fastness of Bethel Rock, to pour forth their prayers and praise. It 
was they, who laid the firm foundations of our educational institutions, 
the sure nurseries of civil and religious liberty, although for the first 
fifty years, in their poverty, they could sustain but one school in the 
territory. 

The influence of the pastor in the early days was deservedly very 
great. Many of the clergy, who first came to this country, had 
property, and assisted their poor brethren in the expenses and diffi- 
culties encountered in making the new settlements. The people were 
far more dependant on their ministers for every thing at that time. 



58 

tlian llicy liiivo siiu-o hct'ii. 'Tlio jiroporlion ol' Icnnu'd nun was far 
smaller III iIkiI lime (lian :il (he present day. The elcrgy possessed 
u larj>e puil ol' llie litcialiiic of the colony. They fitted the young 
men for eollege, assisted ihrm in tlieir stndies at the university, and 
with their advice afterward. Tli(«y were fellow exiles and sutferers 
wilh their ])et)ple in this new and strange land. All these circum- 
stances coMd)ined, gave tlicni a remarkable intluence over their lu'ar- 
ers, of all ranks and dispositions. Perhaps in no government have 
tie clergy had more induence, or been more rationally and sincerely 
respected and beloved, by ruler and people, than in Connecticut. 

All these inlluences exhibited their happy residts in the habits and 
character of the ))eople. The huge old meeting-house was always 
lilled wilh the "great congregation," in sunuuer's heat, or winter's 
cold. Although the idea of warming u meeting-house Avith a stove, 
or a lire-place, never entered the mind of the boldest innovator upon 
ancient enstoms, yet the attendance at the house of God was scarcely 
less in winter than in summer. The Church was almost always built 
on the highest hill, at the intersection of roads leading to the various 
parts of the town, as near the geographii-al center of the teri-itory as 
[>ossible. Ibil the jieople "went up to the temple" to worship for 
many miles aiouiid, though storms were in the air, and the cutting 
wind howletl tiercely over the bleak hill of " the tabernacle." On 
foot, and on the " ride-and-tie " system, they managed to get to the 
phuH" ol worship, wIum'c, by the aid of warm tdothing, close sitting, 
and a ruddy lire in their "Sabbath-Day Houses," or at the parson- 
age, at inlermission, they seemed not aware of the cold weather. 
Here they spent their lime in discussing the sermon, autl in such a: 
nuunuM' as was suitable to holy time. The hours of the Sabbath, after 
the return from church, were generally spent in employments ap])ro- 
priiite to the I'onclusion of the day of rest, and such as were calcula- 
ted to lit them for the everlasting Sabbath in Heavi-n. 

lint those early fathers have long since departed. Several genera- 
tions of their descendants sleep with them, and it is to be feared that 
many of their valuable customs and strict purity of conduct have de- 
parted with them. "Ancient Woodbury" has been greatly favored 
with able, learned and pious pastors. One hundred years ago, and 
for some years previous, there were laboring, at one time, in our lim- 
its. Rev. Anthony Stoddard, of the first society, Rev. John Graham, 
of Southbury, Rev. Dr. Bellamy of Bethlehem, Rev. Thomas Canlield 
of Koxbury, and l\ev. Daniel Brinsmade of Judea Societies; a galaxy 
of talent, learning and pii'ly, without its e(pial, perhaps, at one time, in 



59 

a single town. The influence of those revered men, and that of the 
other noble men who have since that day labored in our courts, has 
not entirely departed. It " still lives," and will go on blessing and 
improving those within its reach, till the " latest recorded syllable of 
time." 

They labored amid difficulties and dangers, and we have entered 
into the results of those labors. They sleep well in these religious 
vales, far from the land of their fathers. " The dark brown years " 
have passed over the sacred mounds that cover them, tor many gen- 
erations. It is right, then, that their posterity lingers, with a sad 
interest, over the lightest trace of their doings ! Is it strange that 
we notice with approbation, acts which, at the present day, would be 
unworthy of remark ? None can contemplate the hardships, labors 
and dangers endured by our ancestors, their self-denial, firmness and 
perseverence in defending and transmitting to us this fair inheritance, 
and not highly esteem and venerate their characters. 

Under such severe difficulties were these pleasant dwelling places, 
and the habitations which we now enjoy, prepared. And yet our 
ancestors were not the paupers, nor the fortune hunters of the old 
world. They were the sturdy yeomanry, the intelligent farmers, the 
middle classes, whose independent spirits spurned the yoke of spiritual 
tyranny. Oppressed and harassed in the old country, our sainted 
sires sought in the wilds and fastnesses of this wilderness world, a 
place for that freedom of thought, and of action, which they could 
not find under the boasted liberty of the British constitution. Thor- 
oughly impressed with the belief that time, faith and energy would 
accomplish all that* could be done in life, the most appalling dis- 
couragements were met and overcome. To their enlightened vision, 
guided by their fervid and simple faith, ^here beamed from the distant 
West the light of perfect liberty, which, like '' another morn risen on 
mid-noon," would continue to shine till the '' perfect day." 

It will be seen, that I have dwelt long upon the events and inci- 
dents of the early days. I have taken the more pains in this regard, 
because our information of the early days is more scanty than of the 
recent past. I had intended to have paid my tribute of affection and 
respect to the memory of the revered men who have lived and labored 
in and out of our town during the last two centuries.* It would be a 
grateful privilege to linger, for a moment, among the sweet memories 
of the distinguished dead for ten generations, who have gone before 

* Full and extended sketches of the distinguished men of Woodbury will be 
found in the " History of Ancient Woodburj^/' published in 1854. 



60 

us to the " undiscovered country." Woodbury has been distinguished, 
from the very first, for minds of the first order, and men of mark. 
But time forbids that I should tarry in these filial fields, and so I hasten 
on to the conclusion of my labors. I am the more anxious to do this 
that I may not longer keep you from the enjoyment of the rich treat 
which my Rev. friend (and I am proud to call him my friend,) has in 
store for you. Descended from an honored stock, and long since 
adopted as a favored son of the Muses, he will surely adorn this mem- 
orable occasion with the gifts of poesy ! 

Glorious, thrice glorious is the day we celebrate ! It is the two 
hundreth anniversary of the exploration of this valley, the one hun- 
dred and eighty-ninth of the gathering of the First Church, and the 
eighty-third of our national independence. On this glad day of lib- 
erty, what sacred emotions arise in the patriotic breast ! How shall 
we rightly honor a day consecrated by the deeds of the noble men of 
all the past — not more the patriots, who fought in the gloomy days of 
the Revolution, than those, who struggled amid the dangers of defence- 
less and remote forests. It has taken all the labors of our fathers, 
from the first hardy pioneer, to make the glorious present. We enjoy 
the fruits of all the toil and blood of our fathers for two hundred 
years. It is meet, then, that we greet with enthusiastic joy the smil- 
ing morn of the anniversary of that last, most during and sublime of 
all the acts of our forefathers, the Declaration of Independence. It 
is well that we hail its annual return with the ringing of bells upon 
ten thousand hills ; by the booming of innumerable cannon and 
smaller arms ; by rockets, fire-works and illuminations ; by solemn 
processions and grateful prayers to God; by stirring orations and 
patriotic songs ! May the hymns of liberty never die out from our 
breezy mountains, nor the lofty sentiment of patriotism from our hap- 
py valleys ! Let the glad ecUoes be repeated from the Eastern to 
the Western Ocean, and from the icy regions of the North to the 
sunny climes of the ever-blooming South ! 

" Ancient Woodbury" has ever been a military town, from the time 
of King Philip's war, when, as we have seen, it had a larger number 
of soldiers in the service, than any other town in the colony, in pro- 
portion to the number of its inhabitants, to the last war with Great 
Britain, when we had more than two hundred men in the field. In 
every war, and on every "alarm," the men of Woodbury have been 
found at the post of duty, performing feats of valor. For that fruit- 
less and fatal expedition, under Gen. Nicholson, for the reduction of 
Montreal and Quebec, in 1709, AVoodbury, still the frontier forest 



61 

town, furnished its full quota of men, being nine, two of whom died 
from the exposures of the camp, at Wood Creek. Among the forces 
under the American commander, who' was obliged to execute that 
most unrighteous and cruel decree for the dispersion of the un- 
happy inhabitants of Acadia, among the New England colonies, tear- 
ing the unoffending and peaceful people from their loved and beau- 
tiful paternal firesides, were soldiers from our old Puritan town, and 
nine of those sorrowful victims of England's gross injustice were sent 
into exile upon the outskirts of our town, to be kept at labor under 
the direction of the selectmen. From 1744 to 1759, our town freely 
furnished her sturdy sons for all those ill-managed and desolating 
wars between Great Britain and France. Col. Benjamin Hinman, 
and Capt. Adam Hinman greatly distinguished themselves in these 
campaigns, although the regular troops constantly domineered over the 
provincials. As soon as the drum, at the " alarm post " in our peace- 
ful shades, sounded the note of preparation for the relief of Fort Wil- 
liam Henry, near Lake George, that beautiful sheet of water, once 
so peacefully resting between its rampart of highlands, the gallant 
captains. Wait Hinman and Ebenezer Downs, the former at the head 
of his company of ninety-six men, and the latter leading his company 
of eighty, marched, at a moment's warning, and made their rapid 
way through many a trackless and weary solitude to succor their 
English brethren. In Hinman's company marched Hezekiah Thomp- 
son, the first regular lawyer in the village, and Dr. Joseph Perry, one 
of its most distinguished physicians. And in that final and glorious 
campaign, conducted under the administi-ation and auspices of 'the 
energetic, brilliant and renowned Pitt, in those important victories, 
resulting in the capture of forts Niagara, Ticonderoga, and Crown 
Point, and in the more glorious event, the surrender of Quebec to 
the victorious army under Wolfe, who met death in the battle-field, 
and whose "spirit escaped in a blaze of glory," — in all these cele- 
brated engagements, the men of Woodbury, both ofiicer and soldier, 
stood in the first rank. Valuable, indeed, was this school of miUtary 
services which closed with this campaign, to our fathers, who were 
so soon to engage in a life and death struggle for their own liberties. 
Great was the rejoicing in Woodbury when the news of the last 
great victory arrived, not unmingled with sorrow at the loss of the 
slain, three of whom had gone forth from their own hearth stones. 
Like demonstrations of joy were everywhere shown. In the elo- 
quent words of Bancroft, " America rang with exultation ; the towns 
were bright with illuminations; legislatures, the pulpit, the press, 



62 

echoed the general joy ; provinces and families gave thanks to 
God." 

But in a far more glorious and interesting cliapter of our country's 
history, the patriotic sons of Woodbury acted a noble and distinguish- 
ed part. Need I tell the youngest listener in this vast assembly, at 
least on this cherished anniversary of our country's history, that I 
refer to the memorable struggle for Independence ? It had been gen- 
erally known, that at the end of the war with France, new regulations 
would be introduced into the government of the American colonies. 
Connecticut in particular, was said to be but "little more than a 
mere democracy, most of them being upon a level, and each man 
thinking himself an able divine and politician ;" and to make its 
inhabitants " a good sort of people," it was supposed, all that was 
necessary, was to take away its charter, and crush its energies. The 
mother country had forgotten its experience in the Charter Oak affair, 
by which it should have learned, that this would not be so easy a 
thing as might be desirable. So she, in the magnitude of her towering 
pride said, " Let the colonies be taxed, and let there be no repre- 
sentation." What a world of interests was affected by that stern and 
unjust decision ! Little dreamed he, who spake it, that it would in- 
flame a continent, and rend from Old England her fairest posses- 
sion. But the word had been spoken — the decree gone forth! With 
a fatal madness, an unaccountable folly, she took her furious course. 
Her children, driven by her intolerance into the savage wilds of a 
distant continent, were pursued with ruthless barbarity. She little 
knew, and little cared, if far away over the mighty Atlantic, her 
arbitrary acts were creating the " land of the free and the home of 
the brave." From this came the War of" the Revolution, to blast 
the dearest hopes of the people of the new woi-ld. Yet from its 
gloomy shades gleamed forth the light of liberty, which to-day shines 
with such dazzling splendor. 

The passage of the Stamp Act aroused the most intense excite- 
ment, alarm and indignation throughout the colonies. Absolute 
resistance to this measure everywhere appeared, and as early as Feb- 
ruary, 1766, a Convention of Litchfield county was held, in which the 
noble men of Woodbury were leading spirits. This body of men, 
feeling within them the true Yankee fire, " Resolved that the Stamp 
Act was unconstitutional, null and void, and that business of all kinds 
should (JO on as usual." The paramount and immediate cause of 
the great struggle of tlie Revolution, was the passage of the Boston 
Port Bill. This outrageous and malicious act excited universal sym- 
pathy for that town, throughout the colonies, but nowhere was it man- 



63 

ifested in a more lively or effective manner than Connecticut. The 
universal spirit of resistance broke out in Woodbury, and in Sep- 
tember, 1774, a town meeting was held, at which resolutions of sym- 
pathy with the afflicted people of Boston and Charlestown were 
passed, and a considerable amount of donations was collected, and 
forwarded to Boston with all possible dispatch. This meeting was 
held just after the " Great Boston Alarm," caused by a report that 
ships of war were cannonading Boston. During this " Alarm," a 
large number of the patriotic sons of Woodbury had marched in mad 
haste, and made a part of that glorious twenty thousand from Con- 
necticut, who, completely armed, put themselves on the route to Bos- 
ton to relieve their brother sufferers. It was soon apparent that war 
with the mother country was inevitable, and the great object of our 
Revolutionary sires was to form public opinion in favor of a contest 
with England. This was best effected in that day of scarcity of news- 
papers, by holding town meetings, in which they could publicly read 
such papers as treated upon the subject of common interest, and dis- 
cuss their rights and grievances. In this way, the people became 
highly excited and exasperated, and patriotism glowed in the coldest 
hearts. The fathers of Woodbury were fully up to the spirit of the 
times, and held frequent meetings to advise concerning the public 
weal. In November, 1774, the people of Woodbury held a town 
meeting, and appointed a committee to observe the acts of the inhab- 
itants in relation to the non-importation, and non-consumption agree- 
ment of the United Colonies, with directions to publish in the Gazette 
the names of all violators of that sacred agreement, to the end, that 
all such persons, might "be publicly known, and universally con- 
temned," agreeing to break off all dealings with such persons as 
should be guilty of such violation. 

The decisive step seemed to be now taken. Neither party could 
recede without betraying weakness or cowardice. The Rubicon was 
passed, and all waited the next move with intense solicitude. Dark. 
ness and gloom had settled upon the moral vision — the veil of the 
future was drawn over the result, and it was impossible for those of 
the greatest wisdom to raise that veil and penetrate the mystery be- 
yond. By such severe regulations, we can see the urgency of the 
danger that threatened the colonists, and the extreme, stern measures, 
judged necessary by the coolest and wisest intellects of the colonies. 
It shows us, too, the caliber of the men, who settled this new world, 
and sought here the supreme blessing of freedom. But putting their 
trust in the God of battles, and in the justice of their cause, they 



64 

dared every evil that might come upon them, earnestly pledging 
" their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor," on the issue, and 
sacrificing all the dearest interests of life on the altar of their country's 
good. 

There can be no better way of appreciating the trials, dangers, and 
difficulties of achieving our independence, than by carefully noting 
the labors and struggles of a single important town. One furnishes 
a type of the whole. In that great contest, Connectfcut was one of 
the foremost, if not the very first State in the confederacy, to resist 
the tyranny of Great Britain, and to lavish her blood and treasure in 
sustaining the conflict with her oppressors. Her soldiers were fre- 
quently applauded by the Commander-in-Chief of the American 
army, for their bravery and fidelity. The honor of the first conquest 
made by the United Colonies during the war, belongs chiefly to Con- 
necticut, and, in a distinguishing manner, to the sons of Woodbury. 
I refer to the capture of Ticonderoga, May 10, 1775, without the loss 
of a man, one of the most brilliant and daring feats of the war. At 
least one half of that little patriotic band of eighty-three men, 
who entered the fort, were natives or inhabitants of Woodbury. 
They were led by Col. Ethan Allen, Col. Seth Warner, and Capt. 
Remember Baker, cousins, and natives of Woodbury,* then residing 
in the " New Hampshire Grants," and on the demand of the former, 
in the " name of the Great Jehovah and the Continental Congress," 
the Commander rubbed his eyes in astonishment, and yielded the for- 
tress. Neither the demeanor of the man, the boldness of his mes- 
sage, nor the nature of his authority, could be gainsayed for a moment. 
This post, and that of Crown Point, which was immediately taken 
by Col. Warner, being thus acquired, Connecticut was obliged to 
garrison, and in 1775, sent 1000 men for this purpose, eight compa- 
nies of whom wei-e from the limits of our ancient town, containing at 
least one hundred and fifty men, eighty of whose names are still pre- 

* On a careful review of the subject of the nativity of Col. Allen, I have seen 
no cause to change my opinions in regard to it, as indicated in the " History of 
Ancient Woodbury," I). 411 to 416, notwithstanding the fact, that my learned 
and ingenious friend, Payne Kenyon Kilbourne, Esq., of Litclifield, has come to 
a different conclusion. 

Since writing this note, Mr. Kilbourne has been suddenly called to enter into 
his rest. He had been at Hartford some months, printing with his own hands 
his History of Litchfield, and the task had been too great for his feeble frame. 
He sacrificed his life to his last great work. He was a learned and estimable man. 
His example was one worthy of imitation. A patient, laborious, and indefatigable 
antiquarian, and a Christian gentleman, has passed away. 



65 

served. The garrisons were placed under the command of Col. Hin- 
man, of Woodbury; Is it then vain-glorious in her sons, if to-day 
they claim it to be essentially a Woodbury atFair ? Truly, to her 
brave children must be awarded the jjalm for securing this opening- 
victory to the American Arms ! 

Woodbury was noted for the vigilance with which it watched tlu^ 
movements of the tories within its borders, of whom it had a few, as 
well as for its active co-operation in everything necessary to carry on 
the great struggle, which had now begun in good earnest. A com- 
mittee of inspection and observation of the conduct of the inhabitants 
of the town, was appointed, consisting of thirty of its chief men, and 
undoubted patriots, which exercised its functions during the whole 
war, vacancies in the board being filled, from time to time, by the town. 
The duties, which this committee felt itself called upon to perform, 
were of the most delicate and difficult nature, and constituted such 
an oversight and interference in men's private affairs, as could only be 
justified by such a case of emergency as was then existing. But 
they were men in whom all had confidence, and upon whom entire 
dependence could be placed in times of difliculty and danger. 

During the first two years of the war, the larger part of the mili- 
tia, which comprised all the able-bodied men from the age of sixteen 
to fifty, had been called to serve at various posts, and on various ex- 
peditions a great part of the time. Early in 1777, enlistments for 
three years, or during the war, were called for, and the quota for 
each town was established. It was a severe levy on the already 
weakened state of the town. But it met the call with a ready zeal, 
and undaunted perseverance. Large bounties were offered to those 
who would enlist, and heavy taxes were laid on the inhabitants, who 
wei'e not liable to do duty, or did not enlist into the army. Another 
arrangement, besides increased wages held out by the (own, to induce 
men to enlist, was a provision, which required it to support their fam- 
ilies during their absence in their counti-y's service, and committees 
were annually appointed to carry this provision into effect. From a 
report to the General Assembly, at the close of the war, in 1783, we 
learn that nearly £3,000 worth of provisions had, in this manner, 
been furnished to soldiers' families during the war. Woodbury was 
also a prominent point for collecting supplies of provisions for the 
army. The streets of the village, from the First Congregational 
Church to Mrs. Marshall's dwelling house, were often piled high, on 
either side, with barrels and hogsheads of pork, beef, lard, flour, and 
other military stores for the use of the army. Nor was the supply 
9 



66 

of clothing of every kind, less profuse in quantity, for the wants of 
the soldiers of the town. In March, 1778, clothing to the value of 
more than $1,000, was forwarded to them at one time. Besides the 
provisions thus furnished by the town, for the army during the war, 
large quantities were purchased of the inhabitants by Shadi-ach Os- 
born, of Woodbury, who was assistant commissary of purchases, and 
also issuing commissary. From his accounts, and other sources, we 
learn that more than half a million dollars' worth of supplies was 
furnished by this town, towards the grand amount necessary to 
achieve our country's independence. This is a showing of which any 
town may be justly proud. 

Such was the care of the town to support and defend those nearest 
and dearest to the brave men, who were manfully fighting the battles, 
and consecrating with their blood every battle-field of their country. 
Such was the anxious care for the soldiers themselves. Those who 
went forth to war suffered extreme hardships, in common with their 
brethren from other parts of the country ; and those who remained 
at home, suffered hai-dships scarcely less severe, in the heavy taxes 
necessary to pay for the soldiers' bounties, and for the support of their 
families, while their own business was ci'ippled and nearly ruined. 

All this was accomplished under the pressure of most unparalleled 
financial difficulties. The continental money, by means of British 
counterfeiting, and the unavoidable loss of credit, arising from so 
long and sanguinary a struggle, constantly depreciated, and, at last, 
became nearly valueless. So great was the depreciation, that when 
the soldiers of the continental army were discharged, after the peace 
of 1783, many of them were forced to beg their way home, their 
wages for a service, so long and weary, being scarcely sufficient 
to purchase them a dinner. 

But Woodbury, in a far more important manner, contributed to- 
wards a successful issue of the dispute with Great Britain. This 
was accomplished by sending large numbers of her best sons to the 
field of battle. In the number and value of her troops, it is believed, 
that few towns of similar territorial and numerical strength, can vie 
with her. Their heroic deeds should grace a bright page of our 
country's history. During the course of the war, more than fifteen 
hundred of her patriotic sons went forth to " do battle for their coun- 
try." At the commencement of the war, Col. Hinman's, or the 13th 
regiment of militia, comprised only the three towns of Woodbury, 
Kent, and Ncav Milford, and all these were within the limits of the 
original Indian Deed. Ancient Woodbury had eight out of the twelve 



67 

companies that composed it, and the number of soldiers furnished from 
them for the continental army, in 1775, exclusive of the company, that 
marched in the Lexington Alarm, was at least one hundred and fifty, 
as that was the number whose " Poll taxes " were abated that year 
by the General Assembly, on account of their service. 

The sun of 1776, although our armies had been successful the 
preceding year, arose clouded and in gloom. The " note of prepara- 
tion " was sounded through the land. There was a " hurrying to and 
fro " throughout the country on business of the most solemn import* 
affecting the dearest interests we know in life. In June, one-fourth 
of the able-bodied men between the ages of sixteen and fifty years, 
in the territory, were drafted, or enlisted. In August, after the evacu- 
ation of Boston, and the occupation of New York by the British, the 
entire militia of Connecticut, west of the river of that name, at the 
request of Gen. Washington, was ordered to New York. The 
Woodbury companies were called out on the 10th, mustered on the 
11th, and marched on the 12th for their place of destination. The 
number of officers and soldiers on the military rolls, at this time, was 
564, all of whom, but 39, marched at the call of their commanders. 
Besides these, there were 248 men in the continental army by enlist- 
ment, making the number of men in actual service, from this single 
town, at that time, eight hundred and seventy-three. The entire 
population of " Ancient Woodbury," by a census taken that year, 
amounted to only 5,325 souls, so that nearly one-fifth of the popula- 
tion, men, women and children, were fighting for the freedom of their 
firesides. This " raw militia " was present in the unfortunate opera- 
tions on Long Island, towards the close of this year, and in Wash- 
ington's retreat fi'om New York, soon after which, the men were 
cfischarged. One would think that it would be impossible to arouse 
and lead forth to battle, at a moment's warning, all the able-bodied 
men in the militia of a town, in such a manner as this, but the inter- 
ests at stake were great, and the most prominent and popular men in 
the community were in the movement, " heart and hand." The offi- 
cers addressed the soldiers in the most urgent and patriotic language, 
and even the pulpit lent its powerful aid to the cause by prayers to 
the Almighty, and by volunteering to go with them on their cam- 
paigns in the capacity of chaplain, as did Rev. Mr. Wildman, of 
Southbury, on one occasion. A passage from the prayer of the Rev. 
Judah Champion, of Litchfield, on the occasion of the attendance at 
his church of a company of cavalry, on their way to oppose Lord 
CornwaUis, who, with a large fleet and armament was approaching 



68 

the American coast, has been often repeated, and so well exhibits the 
spirit of the times, it may well be repeated again ; 

" Oh Lord ! "We view with terror and dismay the enemies of thy 
holy religion ; wilt thou send storm and tempest, to toss them upon 
the sea, and to overwhelm them in the mighty deep, or scatter them 
to the uttermost parts of the earth. But peradventure, should any 
escape thy vengeance, collect thou them together again, O Lord ! as 
in the hollow of thy hand, and let thy lightnings play upon them! " 
Besides these influences, another aided the Revolutionary fathers of 
this town. Previous to the action at White Plains, the soldiers from 
Woodbury had been remarkably fortunate. Scarcely one had been 
killed or wounded, insomuch it had become a common remark, " the 
enemy's balls could not hit the Woodbury boys." In consequence of 
this feeling of security, enlistments went on briskly, and to it, in 
part, is to be attributed the large number of soldiers who vol- 
unteered to go into the service. In that scene of misery at the 
" Sugar House " in New York, and the inhuman cruelties there in- 
flicted, Woodbury had some representatives.* With so large a num- 
ber of men in the service, it could not fail to be represented in every 
field of battle of the eventful struggle in which our freedom was 
secured, and the mother country humbled in the dust. 

The campaign of 1777 opened with an invasion of Connecticut, on 
the part of the enemy — an event long feared by our people. Troops 
were called for to defend the coasts, and Col. Moseley's regiment 
marched to Fairfield. In April, there was a sudden call for troops 
to go to Danbury, as the British were burning the houses, and destroy- 
ing the property of the inhabitants. The alarm lists and militia of 
Woodbury were put in motion, and some of the soldiers, including 
Hon. Wm. Edmond, afterwards a Judge of the Superior Court, and 
one of the greatest geniuses this State ever produced, were wounded. 
Col. Joel Ilinman was also wounded at the same moment, in which 
Gen. Wooster received his mortal wound, at a little distance from 
him. And here is the ball which buried itself in the left groin of 
Col. Hinman, where it remained for the long period of thirty-three 
years, when it was extracted by Dr. Anthony Burritt. On its pas- 

* I never pass that beautiful monument in Trinity church-yard, at New York, 
erected by the Corporation of that Church, without stopping to read its touching 
and impressive inscription : " Sacred to the memory of those brave and good 
men, who died whilst imprisoned in this city for their devotion to the cause of 
American Independence," — and sadly reflecting how many of Woodbury's noble 
sons lie mouldering there, sad victims of that cruel and unnecessary immolation 
of humanity. 



69 

sage, it hit a bayonet by his side, cutting and flattening the edge, as 
you see. And here is another Revolutionary relic, aye a relic of the 
first days of the colony, two hundred years ago. It has been handed 
down from father to son, from its first known owner, Capt. John 
Minor, the Indian interpreter, and is known to be at least 220 years 
old. By closer inspection, I see the manufacturer's date upon the 
barrel is 1624. It was used in the Pequot war, in all the French and 
Indian wars, and in the war of the Revolution. It is said to have 
caused, first and last, the death of forty red men, and from this cir- 
cumstance, has been familiarly known as the " forty Indian gun." 
And here is still another relic of two centuries ago — the old arm chair 
of Col. Benjamin Hinman, brought from Stratford, and formerly the 
property of Francis Stiles. Here, too, is his pipe of peace, presented 
to him at the peace of 1783, with a request that he would smoke it 
as often as the 4th of July should return — a request with which he 
faithfully complied. Here, my friend, smoke to the memory of the 
gallant colonel.* Here, too, is a chair used by Gen. Washington at 
New York. 

It was during this attack, as the British were approaching the vil- 
lage, that Mr. Luther Holcomb, entirely alone, rode upon a hill in front 
of the enemy, and, waving his sword, and turning his head, as though 
he were addressing an army behind him, gave, in a voice of thunder, 
the somewhat imposing command, " Halt, the whole universe ! Break 
O'ffhy kingdoms ! " As this was rather a formidable force to encoun- 
ter in battle array, especially as it had the advantage of position, the 
army halted, brought forward their cannon, and sent out flanking par- 
ties to make discoveries. Upon this, the kingdoms of the universe 
quietly subsided, and Mr. Holcomb made good his retreat to Dan- 
bury. He did not deem it prudent to see whether " one man could 
chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight ! " 

In May, one-fourth of the 13th regiment were detached, and ordered 
to Horseneck, numbering about one hundred and fifty men. In the 
battle of Bennington, under the brave Col. Warner, of Woodbury, 
his friends and neighbors did good service. Two hundred and forty 
men answered Gen. Washington's draft for Peekskill. In Septem- 
ber, the regular army being called to reinforce Gen. Washington, one- 
half of the militia was drafted to go to Peekskill under Gen. Put- 
nam. Not far from three hundred men marched from Woodbury, on 



* These several articles were exhibited to the audience by the speaker. The 
last remark was addressed to a gentleman, who was at the moment personating 
Col. Hinman. 



70 

this occasion, exclusive of the entire company of " Light Horse," 
under the command of Maj. Thomas Bull, which was also ordered to 
the same destination. The attentive student of history will see, at a 
glance, how much greater was the number from Woodbury, than 
from other towns, when he considers how small was the whole num- 
ber in the service. The exact number of the three years' enlist- 
ments is not precisely known, but is believed to be, at least, three 
hundred. At the glorious and memorable victory of Saratoga, we 
had a large body of men, who fully sustained the high character for 
skill and bravery, which they had previously earned. 

In the early part of 1778, it became necessary to draft one hun- 
dred and five men to fill the town's quota of three years' men. The 
fear of the small pox, which prevailed at all the military posts, and 
other causes, had retarded the enlistments. It was not strange under 
the painful circumstances and sad reverses of the close of 1777, when 
the troops under "Washington had worn out their shoes and clothing, 
and could be tracked in their marches by the blood of their feet, that 
new recruits were obtained with difficulty. It was emphatically the 
midnight of the Revolution. But the States having, at this juncture 
framed and accepted " articles of confederation," and being aided by 
the French, the war was vigorously prosecuted in all directions. 

In February, 1779, the whole militia under Coh Mosely, and the 
regiment of " Light Horse" under Major Bull, were ordered to Nor- 
walk, and in May, one hundred men from the Thirteenth Regiment 
were ordered to Horseneck, fifty-seven of whom were from Captain 
Leavenworth's company. It was during these occurrences, that Gen. 
Putnam made his famous "escape" at Horseneck, by spurring his 
horse, when hotly pursued, down a steep precipice, at full gallop. 

During the winter of 1780, the troops had suffered greatly in their 
quarters for want of food and clothing. They were paid off in con- 
tinental money, and with it they could buy neither food nor clothing. 
In this emergency, the town in its great solicitude, offered a bounty 
of £45 in silver for each recruit, and dispatched to the suffering sol- 
diers in the " Connecticut Line," nearly seven thousand articles of 
clothing, of which they had the most pressing need, among which 
were about two thousand pairs of shoes. At this period of the war, 
the prospects of the country were gloomy in the extreme. Only the 
most hopeful and persevering could see relief in the dark aspect of 
the forbidding future. Successive defeats and rampant toryism dis- 
heartened the American people at the South, and the treason of Ar- 



71 

nold, the uninterrupted drain of men and money, producing poverty 
and distress, chilled the hopes of the patriots at the North. 

Yet in August of this year, Washington conceived the plan of 
taking New York from the enemy, and consequently desired a force, 
that would not be constantly leaving him by expiration of service. 
He thei-efore suggested the policy of enlisting a body of " Volunteers 
to serve expressly till New York was taken," and to be called on for 
no other purpose. Instantly twenty-two men left their labors, enrolled 
themselves for this purpose, and reported themselves to their captains. 
Three of them were cousins of Col. Ethan Allen, of the Revolutionary 
stock. These are the names of those noble, fearless patriots,* who 
could forget even the calls of other duties, the ties of affection, the 
sacred delights of their cherished firesides and household joys, to go 
to the aid of their country, suffering, bleeding at every poi'e ! Many 
times before that year, had they responded to the call of their beloved 
chief, and only a few days before this, they had returned from an ar- 
duous tour of service. Four hundred and forty out of four hundred 
and eighty, the whole number in the regiment, had been on duty. 
But nothing could crush the indomitable energies of those sturdy, 
unselfish men, unselfish in the highest sense of the term. History 
does not show a brighter example of lofty and sublime devotion to 
the country's weal ! 

In 1781, thirty men were added to the continental line, and in 
1782, twenty-eight more. This proved to be the last time the town 
was called upon to show its devotion to the intei'ests of the country 
during the War of Independence. It has been seen that the efforts 
of our town to subserve the good cause, began to grow weaker and 
weaker, as the strength of its soldiers wasted away before the pesti- 
lence, and the deadly struggle on the field of battle, and its wealth 
disappeared under the ever fresh levies of supplies for the army, and 
the support of the ti'oops. It would seem, that overwhelmed with 
debt, as the country then was, it could hardly have held out much 
longer. But however that might have been, it seems that a kind Prov- 
idence had designed, in His wisdom, to spare them the trial. To Him 
" who tempers the wind to the shorn lamb," it seemed good to say to 
pride, power and oppression, " Thus far shalt thou go, and no farther." 
Early next year, just eight years after the battle of Lexington, Great 
Britain made propositions for peace, and hostilities terminated. Many 
of the soldiers of Woodbury were present at the surrender of Lord 

* The names of these volunteers were here exhibited to the audience, on a 
placard, by the speaker. 



72 

Cornwallis, which virtually closed the war. The eyes of these surviv- 
ors of a ruthless warfare beheld a glad sight on the morn of the 19th of 
October, when in solemn silence — not amid the smoke and carnage of 
the battle-field — they saw the brave Gen. Lincoln receive the sword 
of Lord Cornwallis, — the strength and glory of the British army, on 
this side of the water, broken and destroyed. Well might the news 
of this auspicious event spread universal joy, as it did, throughout the 
country. Well might all hearts unite in praise and thanksgiving to 
God, for this signal blessing, which was to terminate our struggle for 
independence. It Avas not inappropriate, that Washington ordered 
divine service to be performed throughout the army ; and that Con- 
gress proceeded in solemn procession to the House of God, to ac- 
knowledge its grateful sense of this special favor. , 

But this great boon had been obtained by dangers, and toil, and 
miseries, with scarcely an equal in the annals of mankind ! The 
blood of the dwellers in these fair vales, and in each town and hamlet 
of our land, was shed like water on every glorious battle-field of our 
country, from the skirmish at Lexington to the ever memorable siege 
of Yorktown — from the sad massacre of the fair and poetic vale 
of Wyoming to the field of honor on the heights of Saratoga. Their 
worldly goods, so dearly earned, were freely offered on the altar of 
their country's good. Hunger, cold, privation of every sort, were 
cheerfully endured. Every tie which nature holds dear, and which 
binds the hearts of men in conjugal, paternal, or fraternal bands to 
the well-known hearth-stone, were sundered at the call of our suffer- 
ing country in her hour of need, and of peril. They went forth with 
bounding hearts, and athletic, manly forms. Many of them found 
honored graves in various parts of our land, and many more returned i 
with dire diseases, mutilated frames and shattered health — the merest 
wreck of what they wei'e — to the firesides that had missed their pres- 
ence for months and years. But the result of their labors was glorious 
beyond expectation, or even the dreams of tlie most hopeful. They 
wrought well — a redeemed and widely extended people, now rejoices 
in the result of their toils and sufferings. Many long years have 
rolled their slow course away, since the thrilling scenes of the Revo- 
lution were acted, but they live, engraved on the hearts of a grateful 
and happy posterity. The heroic events of that important period, the 
immortal deeds of our fathers, shall live, too, on the brightest page of 
history, while thought shall endure, or the recollection of human great- 
ness shall remain. If there he "a recompense of reward" for those 
that do well, surely our patriot sires have long since entered on a 
bright fruition ! 



73 

Thus have we wandered through the flowery fields of the past, 
plucking here and there a SAveet garland of wild flowers by the way- 
side, and another in the cultivated gardens of advancing civilization, 
as best suited our purpose. We have endeavored, in our humble 
way, duly to reverence and honor the past. We have traced with 
pious toil the varying tints, the lights and shadows of the pioneer life 
of our sainted fathers, who occupied these seats before us. We have 
rendered them a willing and a filial tribute of love, duty and recol- 
lection. There is a pure and unalloyed pleasure in wandering amid 
the scenes and incidents of the long buried past. There is a sad, 
though ennobling interest, in seeking the faintest recorded trace of 
the early fathers. The eye has kindled at the ancient glories, and 
the soul has been warmed with a placid flow of tender heart sympa- 
thies. In the wealth of the past, full well have we traced " God's 
hand in history." No inquiries can be more interesting to the intel- 
ligent student, seeking guidance from the light of former days, and 
desiring above all to emulate that sublime intermixture of the 
true principles of stability and progress, so happily blended in the his- 
tory of our forefathers. The feelings that prompt these filial inquiries 
are just and natural — they give birth to some of the dearest charities 
of life, and fortify some of its sternest virtues. The principle that 
prompts them, lies deep within our nature. In the beautiful words 
of one of the most eminent of living orators* : " The sacred tie of 
family, which, reaching backward and forward, binds the generations 
of men together, and draws out the plaintive music of our being from 
the solemn alternation of cradle and grave — the black and white 
keys of life's hai'psichord ; the magical power of language, which 
puts spirit in communion with spirit, in distant periods and climes ; 
the grand sympathies of country, which lead the Greeks of the 
present day to talk of ' the victories which we gained over the bar- 
barians at Marathon ;" the mystic tissue of race, woven far back in 
the dark chambers of the past, and which, after the vicissitudes and 
migrations of centuries, wraps up great nations in its broad mantle — 
those significant expressions which carry volumes of meaning in a 
word, — Forefather, Parent, Child, Posterity, Native Land, — these all 
teach us not blindly to worship, but duly to honor the past ; to study 
the lessons of experience ; to scan the high counsels of man, in his 
great associations, as those counsels have been developed in constitu- 
tions, in laws, in maxims, in traditions, in great undoubted principles 
of right and wrong, which have been sanctioned by the general con- 

* Hon. Edward Everett. 
10 



74 

sent of those who have jrone before us ; thus tracing in human insti- 
tutions some faint reflection of that Divine Wisdom, which fashioned 
the leaf that unfolded itself six weeks ago in the forest, on the pattern 
of the leaf which was bathed in the dews of Paradise, in the morning 
of creation." While rendering, therefore, due homage to the past, 
and profiting by all its honored maxims, we would not blindly wor- 
ship it. In the proud consciousness of manhood, we should not fear 
the present, or its bold and startling issues, nor should we be distrust- 
ful of the future, and of the hidden mysteries it may have in store. 
We should not fear the rapid march of events across the stage of 
life. We would not build a fair superstructure on the ruins of former 
times, nor would we " bind down the living, breathing, burning pres- 
ent," to the mouldering, though honored relics of the past. We would 
rather imitate all that was glorious in the acts and example of the 
" men of seventy-six, the boldest men of progress the world has ever 
seen." We would emblazon their great principles of consei-vative 
progress with a pencil dipped in fire. We are proud of the past, 
glory in the present, and look hopefully forward to the future. We 
do not even fear enthusiasts and ultraists, as from the collision of 
extremes comes the ever truthful mean. We would so mingle them, 
that there " should floAV in harmonious procession the cadence of a 
history chiming on through the centuries, full of faith and praise." 
We would fearlessly meet the issues we cannot avoid, while the past 
impels and the future summons us to prompt action, occupying as we 
do the great middle ground, between the early age of planting and 
the bright harvest of the future, which stretches towards us its hands i 
laden with ripened fruit. We would hasten to the golden fields and ' 
bright realizations of the days to come. Our acts are not for an age, 
but for all time. 

In the spirit of liberty lies the secret of the great advance made 
by our town, and by the whole country. Our fathers were the cham- 
pions of rational, conservative progress, which has been the crown- 
ing glory of our land. By this effective agency, every thing has 
become new. The desert waste, that met the first gaze of our pio- 
neer ancestors, has been made to bud and blossom as the rose. 
Where once were but scattered cabins of a former race, are now 
enterprising and busy villages. The ceaseless hum of machinery, 
giving employment, competence and happiness to hundreds of fami- 
lies, is now heard in our valleys, which in the early days but echoed 
back the growl of the bear, the cry of the panther, or the dismal 
howl of the wolf. Instead of the wretched orgies of the powwow, 
and the inhuman sacrifices of the midnight of barbarism, are 



75 

churches dedicated to the living God, where prayer and praise are 
wont to be made. Schools and colleges, those great nurseries of 
cultivated humanity, abound in every nook and corner of the land. 
Where once were cherished the savage instincts of men, and a taste 
for war, now are cultivated the arts of peace and schemes for the 
happiness and advancement of mankind. Intelligence and enterprise 
now take the place of ignorance and sloth. These hills and vales, 
tliat groaned with scenes of violence and blood, are now made vocal 
with the praises of the Great Creator. Instead of a race groping in 
the shadow of dim imaginings, we find one filled with hopes of a 
rational and glorious immortality. Our fathers found a howling 
wilderness ; we behold to-day, as the result of their labors, from 
which they long have rested, one of the most beautiful of New 
England's many lovely villages. Change, great and all-pervading, 
has been wrFtten, in every form, on the face of society. Two hundred 
years ago, there was but a handful of people, scattered in detached 
bands, along the Atlantic seaboard, and some of the larger rivers ; 
now the borders of this happy republic stretch from the Atlantic to 
the Pacific, and from the great Lakes of the North to the Gulf of 
Mexico. During the two centuries that have passed, since our fore- 
fathers first traversed these solitudes, more important events, bearing 
upon the happiness of mankind, have occurred, than in all the ages 
which preceded it, save one, that blessed the world eighteen hundred 
years ago. Two hundred years ago there was not a single printing 
press this side the great deep, and one hundred years ago there were 
but four. Now the press is everywhere, and by the magic power 
of steam, and the perfection of machinery, thousands of copies are 
thrown off in a single hour. The iron horse takes the traveler 
hundreds of miles in a day, through the fastnesses of the hills, 
and over yawning chasms, at a single leap. The lightning now 
flashes intelligence, with the celerity of thought, all over our ex- 
tended country, by means of a network of wires, like the nerves 
of the body, extending in every direction. All these agencies we 
welcome as the results of the conjoined and patriotic labors of the 
past for the advancement of civilization and the good of the world. 

Great indeed have been the results of the labors of our fathers^ 
especially during the Revolution, not only to our own favored land, 
but to the world. Since that hour of deadly peril was passed, our 
nation has gone prosperously on, and we are almost miraculously 
increased from three to nearly thirty millions of freemen. Lib- 
erty and equality are interwoven with every fibre of our institutions. 



76 

Freedom of thought and of conscience is the pole-star of our ex- 
istence. The active and enterprising spirit of the age has given 
us a vigorous and original literature. The universal diffusion of 
knowledge is the grand characteristic of our country. By means 
of this, the most distant member of our population, wliich surges to 
and fro like the waves of old ocean, is visited in his home on the 
broad prairie, or among the everlasting hills, and prepared to act his 
part in the great system of republican institutions. A bright destiny 
for us, under God, may be predicted, far more glorious than king or 
potentate ever gloried in. In the spirit of liberty, inculcated by 
every act of our fathers, lies . the secret of the present condition of 
our kind. Exalted indeed is the position of us, who live in the nine- 
teenth century. We stand amid the mighty ruins of the far distant 
past, while the clear light of liberty has just dawned in full effulgence 
u[)on the world. Events of the greatest importance succeed each 
other with electric speed. We must ride out the storm, and control 
the swelling flood, or be overwhelmed amid its angry waves. " For 
us has been reserved the glorious, yet perilous task, of remodeling 
society — for us a vital share in the regeneration of mankind." Our 
trust is in the lofty patriotism and intelligence of the people, and we 
are cheered on by the hope, that the perfection of humanity, having 
sought in vain throughout the whole world for a permanent resting 
place, may here, in this western land, take up its final abode. 

What shall be the developments and improvements in our highly 
favored territory, a hundred years hence ? The answer to this ques- 
tion must depend mainly .upon ourselves. Of all this vast concourse, 
not one will be here to celebrate the next centennial. Long ere 
another centennial sun shall rise over this lovely valley, we shall 
have experienced the "last of earth," and passed to join the 
innumerable company of the dead ! " The dead of old Woodbury ! 
Lost, yet found forever — absent, yet present now, and always — dead, 
but living in that glorious life, which, commencing on the confines of 
time, sj^reads onward, and ever onward, through the endless ages of 
eternity ! " Then let us, by the nobleness of our conduct, and the 
purity of our lives, eschewing all low delights and jarring discords, 
strive to add our mite to the great and good history of our sainted 
fathers, who have " ascended into glory." Then will our children, 
as they shall, with wet lids, assemble hei'e, a hundred years hence, 
to commemorate our history, be enabled to say of us, " they wrought 
well, and have received the reward of their labors." Then shall our 
fame, as well as that of those glorious men who have already entered 



77 

into their rest, be perennial with our noble language, in which it is 
recorded, now " spread more widely than any that has ever given 
expression to human thought." Let them, in that distant hour of 
commemoration, be enabled to apply to our memories, our virtues, 
and our words, that beautiful apostrophe of our most eloquent histo- 
rian, to the English tongue : " Go forth, then, language of Milton 
and Hampden, language of my country; take possession of the 
North American continent ! Gladden the waste places with every 
tone, that has been rightly struck on the English lyre, with every 
English word, that has been spoken well for liberty and for man ! 
Give an echo to the now silent and. solitary mountains ; gush out 
with the fountains that as yet sing their anthems all day long without 
response ; fill the valleys with the voices of love in its purity, the 
pledges of friendship in its faithfulness ; and as the morning sun 
drinks the dew-drops from the flowers all the way from the dreary 
Atlantic to the Peaceful Ocean, meet him with the joyous hum of the 
early industry of freemen ! Utter boldly and spread widely through 
the world, the thoughts of the coming apostles of the people's liberty, 
till the sound that cheers the desert shall thrill through the heart of 
humanity, and the lips of the messenger of the people's power, as 
he stands in beauty upon the mountains, shall proclaim the renovating 
tidings of equal freedom for the race ! " 

At the close of Mr. Cothren's Address, after music from the Band, 
the vast multitude repaired to the tents, provided with an abundance 
of eatables by the good ladies of the several towns, where they were 
hospitably entertained. In a bi-ief space, the people were again 
summoned to the stand, and the exercises were opened by music 
from the Band, follotVed by the well-known song, " The Pil- 
grim Fathers," sung with fine eifect by Gilbert Somers Minor, an 
aged man of silvery locks and long white beard. Then followed a 
Historical Poem by Rev. William Thompson Bacon, of Woodbury, 
as follows : — 



SIRES AND SONS. 



A HISTORICAL POEM; 



PRONOUNCED AT THE 



Mflflbbitrg Centennial Celekaiion, 



JULY 4rtli, 1859. 



By rev. WM. THOMPSON BACON. 



POEM 



ARGUMENT. 

A band of Pioneers spy out the land — Advent of the first Colony over 
Good Hill — Descent into the valley, their location, some facts about them, 
and why they came — Pass a hundred years, with some notices of descend- 
ants — Summary of the Puritan character. 



Two hundred years ago, as records say, 
*Five sturdy settlers left old Stratford Bay, — 
Wells, Harvey, Uffoot, Curtiss and John Minor, 
The last, of this design the grand designer, — 
And, turning to these northern solitudes. 
Sought out a home, among the gloomy woods. 

But first, as honest settlers ought to do, 
' They seek a title to the land in view ; — 
So turning eastward, far as Naugatunk,t 
Where dwelt an Indian Chief — not always drunk, — 
Of him, and paying large of course, they bought 
All the wide-stretching region that they sought. 

This region, as I learn by efforts great — 
(The muses are exact in what they state). 
Was bounded northward by a trail, that lay 
Over old Bantam Hill,J nine miles each way ; 
Westward, it came, the parted hills among. 
As Ousatonue rolls his bulk along ; 

* John Wells, Ricliard Harvey, Thomas Uffoot, John Curtiss, John Minor. 
t Paugasset, now Derby. 
i Section of Litchfield. 



80 



Southward, from this, due east, to Naugatunk, 
Where dwelt the aforesaid Chief — so seldom drunk,- 
And eastward, by that river, till we come 
Back to the region that we started from ; — 
All this they buy, I dont know for what sum. 
Perhaps three hatchets and a quart of rum. 

Sharp purchase that, you say — but stop, /say, — 
What know you of the land's worth in that day ? — 
AVhat did it bear, all this wide stretch of land. 
That here, in loveliness, we see expand ? 
Perhaps a little maize, some worthless chief 
Scourged his poor wife, to plant for his relief; 
Perhaps a plot of beans the white man gave him. 
Yet not enough of these fi"om death to save him ; 
With here and there a vile tobacco weed. 
That he might smoke a little in his need ; — 
The rest all left where cat or bear might prowl, 
Or echo to the desert wolf's long howl ; — 
All this wide stretch of land, and we to give 
This up, that five old chiefs, like brutes, might live ! 

Perhaps it were a little more like song, 
A little more to romance doth belong. 
To picture here this loveliest paradise, 
With all its glowing woods and streams and skies. 
As sheltering, blessing, in its riches rare, 
A race of demi-gods, and angels fair ! 
Imagination, as she loves to paint. 
And lay her colors on without restraint. 
Might tell us of the bowers here in the wood, 
Where once the Sachem and his Shannup stood, — 
Of lonely walk in solitary glade, 
Of Indian lover with his Indian maid ; 
Of hero, prophet, sage, and all that throng, 
That roll and thunder in the poet's song ; — 
But let me tell you — me — one of the men, 
That do this thing, with pencil or with pen, — 
That this same ancient race we thus exalt. 
And talk and sing about as without fault ; 



81 



Clothing them with all virtues and all graces, 
As if they were indeed earth's godlike races, — 
They were, to say the truth, and shun the evil, 
But little better than the " very devil." 
They never had one true, heroic thought ! 
Nothing divine from Him divine was caught ! 
They were an earthly, animal, hard stock. 
Somewhere between a crocodile and rock ; 
Full of revenge, as is a coal with fire. 
Full of all passions — but no pure desire ; 
Mean, grasping, selfish, lying, filthy, too, 
A drunken, squabbling, shouting, cursing crew ; 
Making their women toil, that they might sleep, 
Making their women run, that they might creep ; 
Kicking them from their wigwams when grown old- 
In short, to every vice and demon sold, — 
Till Nature, tired of this, her favorite quite, 
Snapp'd the life cord, and put him out of sight. 

I know, these loveliest of our Saxon homes — 
With whom all loveliness by birth-right comes, — 
Will feel the singer, with rude hand, among 
Their fond divinities of Romance and Song, 
Is playing harshly, — yet he bids me say, 
That truth is true?' than a poet's lay 
And truth is dearer to some singers, than 
These fancy types of Indian maid and man ; 
And he perhaps will show you, ere we part, 
That he can touch the fancy or the heart. 
Fired by the beauty that may be abroad, 
Amid the grandeur of the works of God ! — 
Thrill with the grandest, softening with the weak, 
Fired by the noble, melting with the meek. 
Till ye shall learn, the poet's first, best thought, 
Comes from no object, where the truth is — not ! 

These five old settlers — we go back to them. 
These five old settlers, — you have had each name,- 
Two hundred years ago, their title got, 
Turn their flint faces for the land they sought. 

11 



82 

Up the bright stream, now Ousatonuc call'd, 
Then Pootatook, its sides the most part wall'd 
So grandly, by tall, perpendicular crags. 
Or now again by meadows and pine snags — 
They take their way, — each one upon his back 
A musket, with his victuals in a pack. 
They reach the place where Pomperaug comes out, 
Under the arching wood, with noisy shout, 
(Down where the river splits the mountain ridge, 
And which we vulgarly call Bennet's Bridge,) 
And, taking this, they follow it, long whiles. 
Leaving behind them half a score of miles ; 
Passing South Britain, pleasant, sunny place, 
Hugg'd by its hill-sides in a close embrace; 
Pass Poverty,* White Oak,t and then, soon after, 
The rich alluvial plain of Middle Quarter; J 
Until they reach this central vale, and stand 
And look around upon the unknown land ! 

It is a thought of beauty and of fear, 
To look upon those lonely wanderers here, — 
The first white men that ever stood upon 
This ancient soil, or look'd upon the sun, — 
And try an instant to call up the power, 
That lay upon their souls in that still hour ! 
Was it not solemn, as they paus'd to view 
The embracing hills, or look'd upon the blue 
Broad heaven, that, like a canopy, came down, 
And rested on the circling mountains' crown. 
They all alone, alone, amid the scene, — 
A solemn, silent, wilderness of green? 
O, had some power, one little moment then, 
Flashed through the minds of these heroic men. 
The mighty future, from the distance caught. 
With all its splendid wealth of soul and thought, 
It's strength and beauty, innocence and truth. 
And reverend age, and loving dreams of youth, 
Each age successive gathering up the past. 
Till the bright present on their souls was cast, — 

* t Localities of Southbury. J Locality of Woodbury. 



83 



Would there been wanting to that spot and time, 
One single element of the grand sublime? — 
And would they not have trembled, in each sense, 
At God's unfolding, mighty Providence? 

These brave men scoured the region all around, 
Sought every spot, and all its promise found, — 
The gentle valley and the rounded hill, 
The winding stream and solitary rill ; 
Each opening vista thi-ough the forest glade. 
And every charm by freak of Nature made, — 
From the cool grotto, where the brooklets run. 
To splinter'd peak, tall black'ning in the sun ; — 
At last, discovering what they came for, pleas'd 
With what they'd purchas'd, not, like robbers, seized, 
Back to old Stratford's strand they turn once more, 
And tell the wondrous story o'er and o'er. 



Roll back the tide of time ! and let us stand 
Two hundred years ago, with that brave band, 
Who, from the hill, that, westering, skirts this scene. 
Looked down upon its rolling forests green, 
And, gazing, as they might, with strange surprise, 
Let the whole mighty landscape fill their eyes ! 

Roll back the tide ! and let us, as we may. 
Group, in our thought, the picture of that day, — 
Of that brave band along the forests led, 
Now climbing steeps, now where the waters spread,— 
Startled, how oft, to catch that sound of fear, 
The bark of cat, or yell of mountaineer, — 
Till where yon mountain rising to the blue, 
Gave all this glorious landscape to their view ! 

Far to the north, hills over hills survey, 
Till their blue tops are mingled with the day ; 
Far to the south the widening vale extends, 
Whose wealth of splendor every beauty lends; 
Far to the west, in wide succession spread. 
Valley and hill, and jutting mountain head ; 
While right before them, 'neath the morning sky, 
Nature's wide wonders all, were in their eye! 



84 

I wonder much, if those broad-hreasted men, 
In that rough age — (it will not come again, — 
Should not perhaps) — I wonder if they view'd 
As we, this mighty stretch of wave and wood! 
The Spring's first bird was whistling in the sky, 
The fragrant birch its tassels flaunted nigh ; 
Through the moist mould, in beauty ever young, 
Tall ranks of flowers on every bank were flung ; 
Far by the streams, as here and there they view'd, 
The classic willow, by the brook-side stood, 
Trembling all over in the morning's beam, 
Or playing with its shadow on the stream ; 
The young winds bore their fragrance all about. 
Mingled with hum of bee and torrent's shout. 
And the wide air with all those sounds was filled, 
That fancy ever dream'd, or heart has thi-ill'd ; — 
I wonder how those men, of stalwart mien, 
In that sweet morn looked forth upon the scene ! 

One mighty purpose all that age had fired, 
One mighty aim each swelling soul inspired ; 
One truth, fast lock'd, in every soul was kept, 
That conscience guarded, and that never slept ; — 
Man came from God, in his own image made, 
And by that charter certain rights conveyed; — 
Those rights long trampled by an hireling throne, 
Had sent them forth, to ways and wilds unknown ; 
Here on bleak shores, soft breezes seldom pi'ess'd, 
Hei*e mid rude scenes, gay fancy seldom dress'd. 
Alone, mid death, in want of all but worth. 
They battled for the noblest prize on earth, — 
Man in his native dignity to stand. 
Himself a prince and ruler of the land ! 

Small time had they then for the mere ideal. 
Their love was truth, their present life all real ; 
They walked the world, faith's vision never dim, 
Saw not God's works, they only gazed on Him ! 

Tell me, ye sons of that imperial race, 
Imperial only, as their truth ye trace; — 



85 



Those brave men, scorning courts, and kingly crew, 
And only daring less than angels do; — 
Tell me, if prince or nobleman there be, 
Can boast a prouder ancestry than we! 



Come down the hill-side with our gallant band. 
And let us trace them round upon the land ; 
Upward and downward, over all they go, 
Northward and southward, east and west they flow. 

'Tis thought a party pierce to Nonewog,* 
Where dwelt a chief, whose name rhymes well with hog; 
Another pierce to Weekeepeemee's plain. 
And scour that region o'er and o'er again ; 
Some pierce to Quasapog, perhaps beyond 
That sheet with classic name, yclept a pond! 
Some scour West Side, then south, down Hesky Meadow, 
Then over Rag Land hills, till they are lead to 
Grim Poverty's hard name, yet not hard soil, 
Then they divide, and scour White Oak awhile ; 
Then coming north, hungry as wolves for slaughter, 
They camp upon the plain of Middle Quarter, 
Where stands an oak, or did, 'neath which they found 
Their fii'st night's sleep upon the cold, damp ground. 

One moment pause. What a suggestive rest. 
Was that, that night, upon the earth's cold breast .-^ 
Home far away, on every side a wood, 
And the whole scene impressive solitude ! 
They had no past, but such as wrung a groan, 
They had no future, but they stood alone ; 
No wealth, no name, possessions, but His power. 
On which to lean in such a solemn hour ; — 
Tell me of heroes in the battle's van. 
Earth looking on to call us knave or man ; 
The genuine, god-like deed by this is known — 
That which we hear, in silence, and alone ! 

Records declare the Shermans take their stand. 
Just on the edge of that alluvial land, — 

* This and the following are all localities of "Woodbury. 



86 



Where they dwell now, or rather, as yankees will. 

They've left the hottoin for the top of the hill. 

Curtiss and Hinman, moving south, evince 

A love for Southbury — I hey have loved it since ; 

Aye, and each other too, and matched and mated, 

Till the whole township is to them related. 

AValkers come north, and drive a stake deep down, 

Close by a rock, that, over it did frown, 

And which now neighbor Douglass calls his own, — 

Not by descent exactly, for he plan'd 

To get a jewel first, and then the land. 

The Minors westward on a gentle hill, — 

Each generation since, by solemn will, 

Has ever held it, — and one holds it still. 

The Judson's farther north in Judson's Lane, 

The Warners, too. Others — but I refrain ; 

The Muse would tire, to mark the spots and places. 

Where sank the tap-root of our mighty (?) races. 

Some things, however, records well declare 
About these men, we note, to show them fair. 
And, what is more, to show them as they were. 
They were not then, of such a blear-eyed kind. 
As think to buy, or beg, or steal, or find 
All a man ought to have in life's mere rind ; — 
They enter into solemn covenant. 
First, to take care, and feed, man's highest want, 
That of his mind and soul, God's earnest plan. 
That bulwark of all nobleness in man ; — 
A stake is driven for a house of God, 
And then a school-house rises by the road — 
Twin facts, that show God did with them abode. 

One other fact, as noticeable, I find — 
A little like a " kink " in this first mind, — 
Yet springing from a well-meant principle. 
So let us honor it, or ill or well. 
Each marCs home-lot was limited in space.* 
It seems they were afraid the human race 
Were not all equal in life's steeple chase ; 

*Fact. 



87 

They thought, by such apportionment, to hold 

Each one, as if run in a candle mould — 

All just alike, lame, halt, or blind, or bold ; 

A very harmless doctrine that, because 

It happens He above, hath fixed some laws, 

Which sometimes bring men's follies to a pause ; 

And it appears, by further searching, that 

Not all of our good fathers were so flat, 

As they first seem in this by looking at ; 

For further resolutions come, in course, 

To let the bolder few, that had the force, 

Go further back, and buy from any source ; 

So they were equal in the first law's point — 

The second knocked the first all out of joint. 

It is'nt the first time wise men their laws make, 

Then legislate a little more, and break 

What they first made, for — common sense's sake. 

How came these Pilgrim Fathers on this spot ? 
We, children, are concern'd in't — are we not ? 
Came they for pelf ? or did some meaner thing 
Burn in their souls, the motive and the spring ? 
The haughtiest breeze that o'er the billows bore 
The May Flower shallop to this western shore, 
Bore not, on all that wild and devious way, 
A truer, nobler, juster band than they. 
Who, from our southern shore, came here and stood, 
And built their cabins in the gloomy wood. 
The self-same principle that nerved the first, 
Burn'd in the second, and by them was nurs'd ; 
Tis strange indeed, how all that age seems fired 
By one grand principle, one thought inspired ! 
Records make plain, that arbitrary* power 
Lay on our fathers in their trial hour, 
Stern and relentless in the first degree, 
Abridging what, to them, was liberty ! 
The struggle then of " Old lights," and the " New," 
Burning New England's churches through and through ; 

* The careful student of this part of our history finds, that the first Colony 
that came up from Stratford, were a minority, crowded out of the Old Stratford 
Church by an unscrupulous majority — a singular parallel to the extradition of 
the first Puritan stocii from old England. 



The old, effete, worn matters of the law, 

Fed not some souls — 'twas famine m their maw ; 

Our fathers threw the old away, and took 

Their own interpretation of God's book ! — 

Man's great soul there, with its far reaching thought, 

This from the future, to his knowledge brought — 

Each for himself, to man, or God, should stand. 

Each one a priest and ruler of the land ! — 

A doctrine that, however spurn'd or curs'd, 

Still to go on, as by our fathers nurs'd ; 

Change every church to .a Democracie, 

Change every throne and state beyond the sea ; 

Till in dread ruin, from high summits hurl'd, 

Power topples down, o'er all the bondage world ; — 

Prerogative, in State, or Church, lets go 

Its living grasp upon man's soul below; 

Till every soul, unfearing tyrants' rod, 

Stands up alone, responsible to God ! 

If nobler trait in any soul can be. 
Of which to justly boast, for you or me ; 
If e'er from Heaven came down for human kind. 
One single element for soul or mind ; — 
If power descended, dignity, high grace. 
Courage from God, to light up form or face, — 
Methinks the world's great records ought to show 
How, when, or where it is, with man below ! 

Earth's record has no history like that — * 
Rocking three Islands like the throe of Fate ; — 
Sifting the race, from highest to the low, 
That the good seed among the chaff might show ; 
Then howls them forth, and hounds them o'er the waves. 
To lodge 'neath icy crags, in desert caves ; 
Makes the land drear, to set their feet upon, 
Takes all the light away of stai's and sun — » 
Till nought is left, to please, to win, to fire, 
Of all earth ever gives, that can inspire ; 



* Probably the history of the world presents us with no records, either of pri- 
vate or public heroism, surpassing those found in the history of the early settle- 
ment of this country. 



89 

That their great souls to God alone might go, 
Dwelling in Yiim, from all we love below ; 
Then plants, mid such intensest misery, 
A germ, to lift the future to the sky ; — 
Where, mid the records of the race, like this, 
Doth the true grandeur of xiian's soul arise ?• 

And these few men, that stood here on that day. 
Fresh from the swamps and tangled forest way, 
Embrown'd, or pale, or trembling, or still high, 
Faith in each heart, and courage in each eye ; 
And the meek matron, by her lord's proud side. 
Or the sweet maid, but yester eve a bride ; — 
These were the children of that race, who came. 
Out from the land of bondage and of shame, — 
Bondage and shame, that, from hej" sacred breast, 
ITnpitying, cast her noblest and her best ! 



Pass a bright century now of rolling years. 
And let us see the scene as it appears. 
How the plain widens ! How the race spreads out ! 
Over yon* western hill a people shout ! 
Another from the north-westf thunders on, 
Another from the north J — a Paixian gun ! 
The eastern fastnesses§ catch up the roar, 
And send it back as ocean's beat, his shore ; 
And the south valley,|| to the line,|| has voice, 
Mixed in with this conglomerate, awful noise ! 
And what are these tall forms that rise up here ? 
Brinsmades, Days, Porters, for a high career; 
And these from Roxbury, live oak, called Smith, 
And Southbury Grahams and Wildmen, men of pith 
Curtis, Stiles, Strong, and Hinman, names succinct 
With light and force, each lineament distinct ; 

* Roxbuiy. 

t Washington. 

X Bethlem. 

§ Middlebury. 

II Southbury and Oxford. 

12 



90 



Eastward these Tylers,* north in Bethlehem fair,t 
There stands a giant in the pulpit there, 
Whose eloquence the devil's self might scare ! 

I see two stars shoot up the western sky,{ 
Two forms like Mars, defiance in each eye ; 
Northward they take their solitary way, 
Where the Green Mountains mingle with the day ; 
Where like twin streams, down to the vale they go, 
A perfect thunder-bolt upon the foe ! 
Crown Points, Ticonderogas, Benningtons, 
These tell the story of these gallant sons. 
Lost to this valley by their splendid fame. 
For who e'er dreamed that tve their lineage claim? 

The Muse, inquisitive, one moment's space, 
Pauses, their perfect lineaments to trace, 
Just as Tradition gives their form and face. 
Allen was terrible to look upon, 
Broad, brawny, hard, Roxbury's genuine son ; 
His red eye burning like a fiery star, 
And his front wrinkled like tlie front of war; 
The " Great Jehovah," " Continental Congress," 
Stuck out all over him, in dress or undress ; 
And his fierce will, that knitted every limb, 
Show'd God or devil only, conquer'd him. 
Warner, of equal girth and equal span, 
Yet a most perfect, gallant gentleman ; 
Of noble port, and broad and slab-like brow, 
Thick, chestnut hair, and eye of heaven's own glow ; 
Voice like a clarion, echoing wild and shrill, 
Like the gray eagle's call from some far hill ; 
Hither and thither mid the battle's fire, 

Louder and louder rung, higher and higher! 

Yet the dread battle done, the cry for peace. 
And not a woman's tears fell fast as his. 

I wonder if these men have left no stamp 
Down to this day, on wise man or on scamp, 



* Dr. Bennet Tyler was of this stock. 

t Dr. Joseph Bellamy; only secoml, in point.of theological acumen and force 
of the theological names of this country. 

I Col. Ethan Allen and Seth Warner, both of Roxbury. 



91 

Such as shall let us see the ancient fire 
Burn out in son as it burnt out in sire! 

Or have our modern, mushroom virtues grown, 
Like weeds that kill whate'er they lean upon, 
Till our loved vale, sharing the nation's curse, 
Goes on from good to bad, and then to worse. 
Till all these virtues, from our fathers sprung. 
Become the scorn of every wretch unhung! 

Ah, for the land, put in the world's wide van. 
To teach mankind to view the perfect man, — 
Boasting her freedom in the world's full eye. 
Bound hand and foot by her venality; 
Boasting her freedom from one tyrant's nod. 
Baring her back beneath the million's rod, — 
(As if dread Bondage had one curse the less, 
Whether a man or million may oppress ;) 
Boasting her knowledge, liberty and law, 
When every foreign fool may see the flaw; 
With but this virtue, that her Saxon lust 
Will have its will, simply because it must, — 
(Strange power of stock! — that, like the sun on snows. 
Withers and wastes whatever it oppose !) — 
Ah, for such land, if faltering when He calls, 
Double her deep damnation, if she falls ! 

Yet let us hope. Our fathers names still live. 
And some of their bright virtues still survive ; 
Brinsmades* still live, Days,t whose serene decay, 
Like the sun's orb, more glorious sink away; 
Smith, erst translated from its rockyj dell. 
Like mountain oak was strongest when it fell ; 
Yet springs anew, and bears its honors well. 
The Wildman name is gone, yet Scottish Graham§ 
In his new field, achieves a grander fame. 
The Curtiss is with double honor crown'd, 
Since here we have, and right among us, found, 

* t Gen'l. Daniel Brinsmade, of Washington, and Jeremiah Day, of Yale Col- 
lege, both enjoying a serene old age, and more than rich in the honors of a well 
spent life. 

{Hon. Nath'l Smith, born in Roxbury, died in this place, 1822. No son of 
Connecticut, in point of native brain force, ever surpassed him. 

^ John Lorimer Graham, of New York. 



92 



Bank, broker, farmer, merchant, in one bound, 

Always in good condition, always sound. 

That primitive Stiles, that chose to guide the plow, 

Did up his work to order — does so now; 

That primitive Strong, that chose to fight and plow, 

(He was a Captain) talhs, but don't fight now. 

Those eastern Tylers, strong as any ox, 

Only grew stronger and more orthodox, 

Till bold the man who dared to try the list. 

His single arm against their logic fist. 

But that big burly brain, that, from the north, 

Shot its sharp eloquence like lightning forth, 

That is quite gone — ay, dwindled from the earth. 

Methinks I see some other names our mother 
Yet keeps, nor will she change them for another; — 
The Minor,* from that first Diaconate, 
Down to the last, a True man and a great, — 
Great in two senses — for his stalwart form, 
And the rude eloquence his lips can storm; 
The Sherman, from that first old honest John, 
Down to the Rector,t that we look upon ; 
The Judson, with his mild and pleasing face, 
Blue eye, fair hair, the genuine Saxon race ; 
The Martin, from that first old " Sargent Sam," 
Down to the last immaculate, " I am ; " 
And scores of others which I cannot name, 
Now filling posts of honor, strength, or fame. 

But there's one name, we will not let that pass. 
No more for what it is, than what it was ; 
They've turn'd monopolists on Litchfield hill, 
And think to keep the credit of it still ; 
But if they wish to know whence came that stock, 
Somewhere between a live oak and a rock, 
Its springtime freshness every year renewed, 
As if with everlasting youth imbued, — 



* This stock can boast an uninterrupted " Apostolic succession " from the first 
Diaconate. Unfortunately however — that is, for advocates of " succession " — this 
succession has split in these latter days, and given us two most honored and labo- 
rious Deacons of the same name. 

t Rev. Henry Beers Sherman, now of Belleville, N. Jersey, the author's most 
excellent early friend, and who gave us a most acceptable sermon, which is found 
in another part of tliis pamphlet. 



93 

We tell old Litchfield, spite of boasts and jeers, 
We claim the honor of that sort of Beers.* 

And if I dared, and could escape the shot, 
Sure to return, explosive, hissing hot. 
Another should be summon'd, a grand-son. 
Pleasant to know, and e'en to look upon, — 
Keen as a scimitar with its first edge, 
Or, if he will, as vigorous as a sledge ; 
His very eye a pun in its echpse. 
Before it leaps in beauty from his lips ; — 
Would you his name, abated not one jot ? 
A very funny Chap, and man f too — doubt it not! 

Perhaps t'were well, that our imported shoots 
Receive their due, as well as native roots. 
Who bids the muse of History:]: unfold 
The treasures of the past, or new or old ; 
By patient industry and work well done. 
Holds up the father's portrait to the son ; 
Wins honor, and should have it, shall do so, 
Though ignorance, hatred, envy, all, say no. 
And when, with world-wide fame, with honors graced, 
The veteran toilsman§ from the realms of taste, 
Seeks our loved vale, to rest that busy brain, 
That it, refreshed, go forth to toil again, — 
What heart refuses in this note to swell. 
Honor to him who honor wears so well ! 

Nor shall be pass'd here our plain men that shine, 
Have they not come right down the mighty line ? 
Walkers and Stoddards ! || — it would puzzle much 
Those ancient men, to give the modern touch 

* Hon. Seth P. Beers, of Litchfield, a genuine son of the olden time, who, 
though now verging on his ninth decade, has yet all the vigor, intellectual and 
physical, of his pristine manhood. 

f Hon. Chas. Chapman, of Hartford, a grand son of Woodbury, who lent us 
some of his truest wit and pathos on tlie occasion of our celebration. 

X Wm. Cothren, Esq., the author's associate in the celebration, whose discourse 
precedes this. 

§ Hon S. G. Goodrich, of world-wide reputation ixnder the nom de plume of 
"Peter Parley," who, after his world-wide rambles, has "pitched his tent'" in the 
south part of this beautiful valley. 

li It is a notable fact, that the direct lineal male descendants of the two first 
most able pastors of this town, now represent the north and south interests of the 



94 

To horse-shoe, or cart-wheel, or wagon tire. 
Fresh from the furnace, sputtering round its fire. 
And if you want a cart, sound as a knot. 
Without a flaw, twist, crack, or one loose spot. 
In body, axle, tongue, or either wheel. 
Go up the street, and call on " Uncle Bill." t 
And men of every grade, and every kind. 
All arts and trades among us, soul and mind, 
T 'is to be hoped the ancient virtue cast 
O'er all, round all, through all, by lineage pass'd, 
Lives in this age, shall live, till stars expire. 
And the world burns in Nature's funeral fire. 

The Muse, in curious mood, would picture here, 
One or two separate stocks, as they appear. 

She's speculated much upon one point, 
And still her logic is quite out of joint, — 
Whence came that hardy, iron, Atwood race — 
Their characters all written in their face ; — 
A strange, determined, energetic line, 
With brains enough in any path to shine ; 
Yet full of crosses as an egg with meat. 
Of inconsistencies, and yet discreet ; 
Sharp to see things, the wrong are always righting, 
And always peaceable — when they're not fighting ; 
A race to snuggle to, if on your side, 
A race to knuckle to, if not allied ; 
Wise, sober, just and self-denying, prayerful, 
Sly, cautious, cute, sagacious, cruel, swearful ; 
Mixture incomprehensible of kinds. 
Their thousand men and maids of thousand minds ; — 
In short, the Muse declares, though well acquainted. 
She can't decide them sinners or the sainted. 

One other name perhaps should rise up here, 
Nor need the singer blush that it appear ; 

place in the "ancient and honorable device" of horse-shoeing, and both as famous 
for " beating " iron, as their Rev'd ancestors were for beating the " drum ecclesi- 
astic." 

i Famous for the manufacture of ox carts — with but the single objection, that 
they never jWear out. g^y,^ 



95 

One in whose wondrous potency of soul, 

A dozen men might be, nor fill the whole ; 

Power in each part of him, and nought but power, 

Power from his cradle to his dying hour ; 

A man of that vast business skill, that it 

To any bold emergency might fit ; 

Knew how to evoke large gains in any line. 

Now from a spool of cotton, now a mine ; 

Lands, stocks, rare merchandise, or common things, 

No matter where he sought to strike wealth's springs. 

He always hit them at the time — wealth roll'd 

Around him literally in a tide of gold. 

I honor no man, — let the record be 

Preserved, and given to posterity, — 

For his fat ledger, between whose twin sides, 

A million widows' tears have roll'd like tides; 

Or orphans' groans have echoed, as they press'd 

Like a hot millstone on their bleeding breast ; — 

But wealth, the proof of power, our praise may claim, 

And wealth, so view'd, may give a man to fame ; 

And fame was his, as wealth was his, who died. 

Of our loved valley, once its strength and pride.* 

The Muse depicting character thus here. 
Pauses to drop one solitary tear. 
Where is that sex, amid this world of strife, 
That makes up more than half the sum of life ? 
One such I knew, of loveliest form and face. 
Light on her brow, and light in every place ; 
Gifted with genius like a torch of fire. 
Her birth-right mind, and every pure desire ; 
Borne from our midst to love's own secret bower, 
Charm of each circle, joy of every hour ; 
Her influence widening as the years ran on. 
Her soul aspiring nearer to the sun ; — 



*Jabez Bacon, the author's grandfather, a man of almost fabulous wealth and 
all the product of his own unaided genius. He began life a poor boy and' died 
the richest man in the State. ' 



96 



When the dark shadow on that household fell, 
And every virtue sighed to say farewell.* 

One other picture, clad in grief 's dark stole. 
Comes up and presses sad upon the soul ; 
And yet all light and love that image dear, 
As ye shall deem it, as ye see it here. 
The Scholar-pastor ! through those long bright years. 
Working his prayerful woi'k 'mid joyful tears, 
Meekness writ o'er his face, and love's own sign. 
Lit up ineffably with love divine ; 
High in each purpose, clear in every thought, 
Rich in those truths experience had brought ; 
Refined, sweet, eloquent, his spirit feeling 
Beauty all round him, every fount unsealing ; 
His soul fiU'd full with solemn tenderness, 
A lip that could not wound, but yet would bless ; 
First to discern his step on Calvary led, 
Last by the sick and by the dying bed ; 
He moved among us of such perfect fame, 
That not one word did ever soil his name.t 

But hark again, that startling, solemn knell, 
Round all our valley with its pealing swell ; — 
The upright judge, the wit, the mind intent. 
With the large heart that always with it went ; 
Not like too many, worser than he seemed, 
But always better than himself had deemed ; 
Passing his years among us, soften'd, sage, 
Almost the feature of another age ; — 



* Mrs. Mary Smith Mouell, daughter of Hon. N. B. Smith, of this place, and 
wife of Hon. John J. Moncll, of Newburg, who died Oct. 22, 1858 ;— a lady as 
remarkable for her natural gifts, as she was for her perfect unconsciousness of 
their possession. 

t Rev. Samuel R. Andrew, Pastor of the South Church in this place a quarter 
of a century, and uniting in himself all the imaginable perfections of a gospel 
minister. 

In this place I cannot but pay a tribute to his " twin brother" in the sacred 
work. Rev. Grove L. Brownell, of the North Church, for about the same length 
of time. The nortliern brother ])0ssessed less of the softness and affability of the 
other, but what he lacked in these was made up in the sterner, masculine vir- 
tues — jicrhaps the more needful in his own field. They were together, a rare 
combination of ministerial excellence, and the town will long reap the advantages 
of their mutual faithfulness. 



97 

\ 
In one dread moment, sent to that far shore, 
Where praise, nor blame, shall ever reach him more. 



These were our Fathers. We sit down to-day, 
To estimate the worth that in them lay ; 
Let us be just, avoid fictitious hues, 
And take the dicta of an honest Muse. 
In that far day, it is not hard to find 
The springs that move the common heart and mind ; 
Harder by far to see the springs that play 
Beneath the living maelstrom of to-day. 
That day society was, most part, free 
From complex causes, which to-day may be ; 
Their means were limited, their wants, therefore, 
Fewer in number, simpler in their power. 
They had come far from distant lands and fires, 
And bade adieu to ancient gods and sires, 
'Mid scenes unparalleled in history. 
And scarcely dwelling even in fancy's eye. 
Those stirring scenes a few bright, solemn truths 
Burnt in on each man's mind, and even youth's ; 
On infants even, we might deem the fire 
Left some dread impress, as it scorch'd the sire. 
Those truths were first, indignant sense of wrong. 
Borne at their hands who for them should be strong ; 
Conscience t'was dared to hedge in by such bounds, 
As makes earth's records shine with martyr's crowns ; 
And then the natural wants that all men have. 
That always help the good and true and brave, 
The love of home, the love of child and wife. 
The love of ease, instinctive hating strife. 
The love to accumulate an honest gain. 
That will not labor laboring in vain, 
With a true fear of what is in each man. 
As God unfolds it in his chosen plan, 
And a safe fear of Him, that puts him first. 
And not denies him, though by men accurs'd ; 
And we might add, a lusty, sturdy health. 
One of the best securities for wealth ; — 

*Hon. Chas. B. Phelps, lawyer and Judge of Probate for nearly thirty years, 
who died Dec. 21st, 1859, while sitting in his chair, and attending the meeting of 
the Warner Monumental Committee, at Roxbury. 

13 



98 



All thh, and these, received as facts, and we 

Have the whole key to Pilgrim history. 

This made men say in that far day — farewell 

To home, to country, all that in them well ; 

Farewell the spot of kindred and of birth, 

The dearest, sweetest, loveliest of the earth ; 

Fai*ewell, old England, greatest of the sons 

Earth yet has known of all her ancient ones ; 

Greatest as civil, greatest moral too, 

Greatest, as we her splendid line review 

Of heroes, sages, poets, all that move 

In the great past, and make it what we love ; 

And welcome desert waves and far oft' shore, 

Where home's sweet chimes shall never echo more ! 

Who dares to slander that bold, Puritan band. 
That first set foot upon the western land ? — 
Tell us of restless spirits — so sent forth 
To this, the farthest end of hostile earth? — 
Tell of an avarice that sent them on. 
Or other passion hateful to the sun ? 
He shuts his eyes on facts, that, bold as light, 
Change to bright burning day the darkest night ; 
Reads history backwards, and philosophy, 
As a dull school-boy in his first degree ; — 
They came because chey could not stay at home. 
For this they dared December's wintry' foam; 
Dared the rude desert, and the wintry fiood. 
The barren rock, and solitary wood — 
Places where want and all diseases sprung, 
And mountain cat yelFd wild above her young ! 

'Tis said indeed, the boasted Puritan, 
Well, after all, was nothing but a man ! 
Who says he was ? or who pretends to find 
Ought but a specimen of poor human kind ? 
Shuns persecution, yet will persecute, 
Dwelling in God, yet showing strangest fruit ; 
Chases the quaker from old Cambridge Bay, 
And burns a witch, or hangs her, as some say ; — 
(Though't's not so plain, the quaker persecuted. 
Was not most justly served and justly suited ; 



99 

When men run naked through the house of God', 
Methinks they need the law, or need a rod ;) 
Yet if one single soul to God went forth, 
By fire or cord, to the new Heavens and earth — 
And truth declared it was so, — then first find. 
This the disease of all that day and mind ; 
Of. minds of highest power beyond the seas. 
Men of all ranks and races and degrees ; 
So if one single soul to heaven was sent, 
The age bears that — these only ignorant. 

Methinks we must search history o'er and o'er. 
Search every land, and clime, and sea, and shore. 
Almost call up fictitious days and powers, 
Ere we shall find a nobler stock than ours. 
Stern it may be, unpolish'd, narrow, borne 
Onward too oft, by what they ought to scorn ; 
Reading truth strangely, and too often led 
By what was in themselves, than what they read: 
Frowning at joy, God's taper in the soul, 
Making their good, too oft, in form, or stole. 
Or look, or gesture, or some other thing 
That in religion has no sort of spring ; — 
And yet for brave intent, that dared to view 
God in the face, and say "thou know'st me true;'" 
For honest, godlike energy, to stand 
And battle for the truth, with sword and brand ; 
And, more than this — to offer life up — so 
Their perfect rectitude the world might know ; 
Earth offers no superior of her kind, — 
And hence we reverence Pilgrim soul and Mind! 



100 



At the close of the Poem, which occupied an hour and a half in 
the delivery, the assemblage united in singing the following 

SONG. 

BY WILLIAM COTHREN. 

Tune — "Auld Lang Syne." 

Should early ages be forgot, 

As months and years decline ? 
Should ancient mem'ries wake us not, 
"And days of Auld Lang Sync ? " 
For Auld Lang Syne, my friends, 

For Auld Lang Syne , 
We'll give the hand of friendship yet. 
For Auld Lang Syne. 

Uur fathers sought this ((uiet vale. 

With noble, pure design ; 
Their humble prayers rose on the gale, 

Each day of Auld Lang Syne. 

" For Auld Lang Syne," &c. 

And here their lowly dwellings stood, 

'Mid chestnut, oak, and pine ; 
They sought to do their neighbors good, 

In days of Auld Lang Syne. 
" For Auld Lang Syne," &c. 

All honor to that early stock. 

Whose hearts did them fUcline 
To praise their God at Bethel Rock, 

In days of Auld Lang Syne. 
" For Auld Lang Syne," &c. 

Right soon they built a cluirch to God, 

Beneath the tree and vine ; 
But they 've been resting 'neath the sod. 

Since days of Auld Lang Syne. 
"For Auld Lang Syne," &c. 

Our fathers' power is living yet. 

In principles divine ; 
Their counsels wise we'll ne'er forget. 

Nor days of Auld Lang Syne. 

" For days of Auld Lang Syne," &c. 



101 

Then followed the benediction, by Rev. Thomas L. Shipman, of 
Jewett City, Conn., formerly pastor of the Congregational Church in 
Southbury : 

" Now may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be and abide with 
us, the descendants of the holy men who settled these pleasant val- 
leys, and with our children, for ever and ever. Amen." 



SECOND DAY, 



On the morning of the second day, at eight o'clock, about one 
thousand persons convened in that sacred dell in the thick woods, on 
the east side of the Orenaug Rocks, about a mile from the village, 
which was consecrated by the prayers and praises of the eai'ly 
fathers, and by them called Bethel Rock. This meeting was held 
for the special purpose of commemorating this most interesting fact 
in the history of our revered ancestors, and the occasion was one 
long to be remembered by every devout heart. 

Rev. Robert G. Williams, pastor of the old Pioneer Church, 
opened the meeting by giving out one verse of the hymn com- 
mencing — 

" Be Thou, O God, exalted high," 

which being sung with great solemnity, in the ever welcome air of 
'' Old Hundred," Dea. Eli Summers was called upon to lead in prayer, 
which he did, after making some feeling and appropriate remarks. 
Then followed the reading of portions of the 28th and 35th chapters 
of Genesis, which contain the account of Jacob's setting up a stone 
to indicate the place where God had talked with him, and naming it 
his Bethel ; which passages occasioned the giving by our fathers of 
the name of Bethel Rock to this beautifully wild and secluded place 
of prayer and communion with God. Then followed, in rapid suc- 
cession, appropriate remarks by Mr. B. H. Andrews of Waterbury, 
Rev. Anson S. Atwood of Mansfield Centre, Dea. Truman Minor of 
Woodbury, and Rev. Philo Judson of Rocky Hill. Mr. Judson be- 
came much affected while giving reminiscences of the great and good 
men with whom he had communed in prayer in this sacred retreat, 
in former years, and who now rest from their labors till the " Great 
Day of Accounts." Then followed the hymn — 

" Once more, my soul, the rising day," &c. 



102 

Rev. Benjamin C. Meigs, late missionary to Ceylon, where he had 
labored for more than forty years, now led in a beautiful and impress- 
ive prayer, after having made the following remarks : 

REMARKS or MR. MEIGS AT THE BETHEL ROCK, 

My Friends ! I feel that it is good for us to be here. Here is 
the place where our Puritan fathers assembled to worship God, 
before they had any sanctuary built for this purpose, and while their 
savage foes roamed in these forests. In this beautiful ravine, under 
these sheltering rocks, by setting a watch on yonder point, they could 
worship in comparative safety. Hence the name by which this place 
is known — " Bethel Rock." Surely the God of Bethel is here this 
morning. " This is none other but the house of God, and this is the 
gate of heaven." May we not suppose that our pious forefathers are 
now looking down upon us, while we are gathered together in this 
consecrated place of worship ? With what delight will they behold 
this assembly, while we pour out our hearts before God in prayer ! 

We have great encouragement thus to draw near unto him, and to 
pray for his blessing upon ourselves, upon our children, and our chil- 
dren's children, to the latest generation. He is indeed the hearer 
and the answerer of prayer. What wonderful illustrations of this 
great truth has he given to the people of this land within the last 
two years ! How ready is he to hear and answer our prayers ! 
''And it shall come to pass, that before they call I will answer, and 
while they are yet speaking I will hear." And again, " Bring ye all 
the tithes into the storehouse, and prove me now herewith, saith the 
Lord of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and 
pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to 
receive it." God is waiting to be gracious, and I feel that we ought 
not to depart from this hallowed ground this morning, without a 
special blessing. Let us carry this blessing with us, to our homes. 
Let us consecrate ourselves anew to the service of God. Let us all 
henceforth live unto Him, and not to ourselves Then, though we 
part to meet no more on earth, we shall all meet in yonder world of 
glory, and sing his praises forever ! 

A few appropriate remarks by Dea. Judson Blackman were fol- 
lowed by a prayer from Rev. Anson S. Atwood, and the singing of a 
verse from the ninetieth Psalm. The regular exercises being now 
closed, a few moments were spent in hearing volunteer remarks, 
v\rhen the audience united in singing the verse, commencing — 

" Lord, dismiss us with thy blessing." 



103 

Then followed the brief concluding prayer, by Rev. Philo Judson, 
and the benediction by Rev. Austin Isham, of Roxbury, and this 
solemn and interesting occasion was numbered with the events of the 
past, an event never to occur again during the life of any soul pres- 
ent at the revered spot. Many lingered, as if unwilhng to separate, 
and many more procured and carried away portions of the rock and 
moss, to be treasured as sacred mementoes of a hallowed spot, and a 
sacred scene. 

At ten o'clock, a procession was formed in the same order as the 
first day, with the exception of the " antique " portion of it, which 
was omitted, and marched to the Tent, escorted by the Band and 
Warner Light Guards. 

The services were opened by music from the Band, followed by 
the reading of the following 

CENTENNIAL HYMN. 

BY REV. WILLIAM THOMPSON BACON. 

Supposed to he sung on the spot where the Pilgrim Settlers held their first Sabbath 

Worship. 

Here, then, beneath the greenwood shade, 

The Pilgrim first his altar made ; 

'T was here, amid the mingled throng, 

First breathed the prayer, and woke the song. 

The sun, which lends his gladness now, 
Lay bright upon the Pilgrim's brow ; 
And this same wind, here breathing free. 
Curled round his honored head in glee. 

How peaceful smiled that Sabbath sun, 
How holy was that day begun. 
When here, amid the dark woods dim. 
Went up the Pilgrims' first low hymn ! 

Hushed was the stormy forests' roar. 
The forest eagle screamed no more ; 
And far along each blue stream's side. 
The small wave murmur'd, where it died. 

Look now upon the same still scene. 
The wave is blue, the turf is green ; 
But where are now the wood and wild. 
The Pilgrim, and the forest child ? 



104 

The wood and wild have passed away ; 
Pilgrim and forest child arc clay ; 
But here, upon their graves, we stand, 
The children of that Christian band. 

(J, while upon this spot we stand, 
Tiie children of that Christian band. 
Be ours the thoughts we owe this day, 
To our great fathers passed away ! 

By prayer and contemplation led, 
Be ours by their brave spirits fed ; 
Be ours their efforts and their aim, 
Their truth, their glory, and their name ! 

An exceedingly eloquent, fervid, and appropriate prayer was then 
offered by Rev. Friend W. Smith, Pastor of the Methodist Church 
in Woodbury, a copy of which, w^e were unable to obtain, but the 
following is a brief synojisis of its leading topics : 

Acknowledgment of the power and goodness of God, in the crea- 
tion and preservation of all things. His rightful sovereignty. Our 
dependence on, and duty of allegiance to him. Confession and depre- 
cation of sdn. Recognition of, and thanksgiving for the goodness of 
God, in his providential and gracious dealings with mankind, espe- 
cially in redemption by Christ ; of his goodness especially to us, as a 
people ; manifested in his care and protection of the Pilgrims, in 
their passage over the ocean, and in thei^ early settlements. His 
interposition in our Revolutionary struggle ; the appointment of 
Washington, a man of prayer, as leader of our armies ; and in lead- 
ing a mere handful of undisciplined men to final victory. His guid- 
ance of, and providential kindness to the explorers and early settlers 
of Ancient Woodbury. An earnest prayer for the continuance of 
his grace and protection to our nation generally, and to this commu- 
nity and their posterity particularly ; that he would graciously take 
away all bitterness and remove all animosities from among us ; that 
while we honor men, as the instruments of our success, we may never 
forget Him by whose providential care they are guided ; and that 
we may all be enabled so to discharge our duties, that when this 
assembly shall all meet at the judgment, we may stand acquitted 
through him who taught us to pray — Our Father, who art in Heaven, 
hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on 
earth, as it is in Heaven. Give us, this day, our daily bread ; and 
forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. 
Lead us not into temptation ; but deliver us from evil ; for thine is 
the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. 



105 

The choir then sung the following 

HYMN. 
Tune — " Old Hundred." 

Before Jehovah's awful throne, 

Ye nations, bow witli sacred joy ; 
Know that tlie Lord is God alone ; 

He can create, and he destroy. 

His sovereign power, without our aid, 

Made us of clay, and fonned us men ; 
And wlieu, like v/andering slieep, we strayed, 

He brought us to his fold again. 

Wo are his people, we his care. 

Our souls, and all our mortal frame ; 
What lasting honors shall we rear. 

Almighty Maker, to thy name ? 

We' 11 crowd thy gates with tliankful songs ; 

High as the heaven our voices raise • 
And earth, with her ten thousand tongues, 

Shall fill thy courts with sounding praise. 

Wide as the world is thy command ; 

Vast as eternity thy love ; 
Firm as a rock thy truth shall stand, 

When rolling years shall cease to move. 

Then followed a Sermon, by Rev. Henry Beers Sherman, of 
Belleville, New Jersey, .1 native of Woodbury : 



14 



THESE THREE 



A SERMON 



Preached at Woodbury, Conn,, 



ON OCCASION OP ITS 



BI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION, 



JULY 5, 1859. 



BT THB 

REV. HENRY BEERS SHERMAN, M. A. 

BECTOa OP CHRIST CHURCH, BELLEYILLE, N. J. 



TO 



THE IIEMOKY OP 



THE REVEREND ZECHARIAH WALKER, 

THE FIRST MINISTER OF 

ANCIENT WOODBURY; 

Etus Sermon, 

PREACHED ON OCCASION OF THE BI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 
OF THE TOWN, 

BY HIS DESCENDANT IN THE SEVENTH GENERATION, 
IS REVERENTLY INSCRIBED. 



COLLECTS. 

Almighty and everlasting God, give unto us the increavse of 
faith, hope and charity ; and that we may obtain tliat which thou 
dost promise, make us to love that which thou dost command > 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Ame7i. 

O Lord, who hast taught us that all onr doings without charity 
are nothing worth ; send thy Holy Ghost, and pour into our 
hearts that most excellent gift of charity, tlie very bond of peace 
and of all virtues, without which whosoever liveth is counted 

•dead before thee. Grant this for thine only son Jesus Christ's 
sake. AnierK 



S E R M O IS^ 



" Now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three ; but the greatest of these is 
cliarity." — 1 Cor. xiii: 13. 

Now — that is, in our present stat*^ as a probation — in this 
world and upon the life we are living in it, these three abide as 
the constituent elements of its substantial portion. In the work 
of our salvation, as the central business which employs and occu 
pies us here, each, as an attribute of our forming character, holds 
its assigned position in a fixed relation 

Now — in this present state of our d.xistence as preparatory for 
the future, (and in regard of the first two, as will l)e sliown, now 
strictly and exclusively,) "abideth faith, hope, charity, these 
three" — each and all of them — ^jointly and severally, together 
and distinctly. 

1. Faith — in which the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of 
Life, moves upon the abyss of our fallen nature, and begets us 
again unto a lively hope in Jesus Christ ; and through which, in 
its operation by love under that ministration of the Spirit of God 
which tlie mediation of the Son procures to bring us to the 
Fatlier, we are justified and regenerated, renewed and sanctified 

2. Hope — by which we are incited to rise above the adversities 
and trials of this present world, and to look beyond it for the 
soul's true home. And 

3. CHAjaxY — by which faith and hope are inclined to a heav- 
enly direction, and all the gifts and graces of the Divine hfe 
shaped and consolidated and made holy in the sight of God. 

4. The gkeatest of these is charity — because, in distinc 
tion from the other two, it is an attribute of God, and constitutes 
in man assimilation to his Maker — the renewal of that divine 
image and likeness in which he was created. 



It is foreign to our present purpose, under the straitened con- 
ditions of our space precluding it, to enter at large into the defi- 
nition and description of faith. The term is variously employed 
in Scripture, and is expressive of a great variety of meanings. 
It must suffice, in the present connection, that we follow the dis- 
tinctive lines of the pa.">sage under review, and confine our survey 
to the specific indications which it furnishes. 

1. Now Abideth Faith. 

As employed by the Apostle in our text, and in the chapter 
which includes it, faith is the causative or actuating principle 
by which all our hopes and desires, all our pui-poses and endeav- 
ors, and even our belief, are made effectual. We say beliefs be- 
cause there is a distinction with a difference, between intellectual 
assent to the system of Divine Truth, and that justifying faith, 
which, laying hold upon the hope set before us in the Deliverer, 
and resting in the promises of God, brings the whole man under 
a divine dominion and into captivity to the obedience of Chi'ist ; 
and which, in its working by love, demonstrates the great j^rob- 
leni of our souls' salvation. As it " now abideth," faith is the 
provisional agency or means through which the restoration of 
fallen man to the favor of God is potentially effected. Though 
it is the condition of our justification — and the indispensable 
condition, in that it allies us to the Lord that bought us — still it 
is a part and not the ichole of " our high calling of God in Christ 
Jesus." It is a means to the production of Christ In us, " the 
end of the law for I'ighteousness." 

It serves the important purpose of introducing us within the 
circle of divine grace ; leads us to an apprehension of the hope 
of eternal life set before us in Christ Jesus ; brings us within 
reach of the promised salvation which grace j^rovides, and nerves 
the soul to lay hold upon and appropriate it. Both in its nature 
and in its function, faith is inferior and subordinate to charity. 
As an instrumentality it brings us to the law of our filial duty, 
while charity embraces it — for " love is the fulfilling of the law." 
The simple exercise of faith brings us to Christ : The operation 
of LOVE makes us like Christ, conforming us unto His image in 



righteousness and true holiness. Thus roitJt charity abideth 
FAITH : but greater than fliith is cliarity. 

Let us not be understood in tliis connection, as seeking or de- 
siring in anywise to lower the due estimate of faith : we are 
far enough from that. We acknowledge and accredit it, as the 
initial doctrine in the scheme of divine grace — the condition upon 
which our justification before God depends and hinges. "With- 
out faith it is impossible to please Him." It is only through 
faith in the atonement effected by Christ, that we can look for 
any lasting benefit to accrue to us from His mediation. 

We are, indeed, (as the Apostle says, and repeats,) " saved by 
gracey But that " grace of God which bringeth salvation" can 
only reach us " through faith " It is the appointed medium — 
the way and means through which we fii,ll in with the gracious 
plan of God concerning us, and work out our own salvation, 

" Now abideth faith" — now^ as the prime essential of our Chris- 
tian state. Without it, human hope is but a wayward and de- 
lusive fancy ; and human righteousness, even the highest grade 
of it, is but an empty show — a form without the substance — a 
body without the soul. Therefore, (that is, growing out of the 
necessity of the case,) " now abideth faith :" and every thought 
and action of our life — every purpose and endeavor Avhich enters 
into the account of what we are, must proceed and spring from 
FAITH, or they pass into the portion of "dead works." It is only 
as the quickening principle of faith pervades and hallows what 
we do, that our service becomes acceptable in the Divine sight, 
and thus wins for us the Divine favor. " Without faith it is im- 
possible to please God." 

But, (for " the end of the commandment is chauitt,") if we 
propose faith to ourselves as an end which we are to attain and 
stop at, we grossly mistake both its nature and its office. It is 
but the means through which our salvation by grace is to be 
wrought out. And we should always consider it only as a means 
— the end which it subserves being eternal life, in which faith 
will have no part nor lot. Although, as our text affirms of it, 
"faith abideth no?/?," conjoined with charity and operating by 
it what is holy and acceptable, yet, as all that is heavenly in its 



8 

nature is comprehended and included in that "greatest of these," 
which under the term "love" is defined by St. Paul as "the 
fulfilling of the law," the truth of the aftirmation in our text is 
made apparent : and while now abideth faith with charity, great- 
er than faith is cliarity. 

Let us pass to consider the second feature in the Apostle's state- 
ment. 

2. " Now Abideth Hope." 

What we have shown in demonstration of faith as inferior to 
CHARITY, is applicable alike to hope. It " abideth now," as part 
of that law which as a school-master brings us to Christ. It is 
the great incentive to exertion in the work of our salvation. It 
is an important element in the entire texture of our present char- 
acter; aud is interwoven as a golden thread with the whole es- 
sence of our moral being. It enters into the very substance of 
our fearfully mysterious life ; and operates npon the whole sur- 
face of that twofold relationship in which we stand, as connected 
with this world, and looking on to connection with another. It 
makes us what we are, and unfolds to us what we shall be. 
Whether in things earthly and temporal, or in things heavenly 
and eternal, hope is the quickening principle which nerves to en- 
ergy the heart of man, and leads him forward amidst fear and 
doubt to tread with a firm step the ascending path of life. 

" Now abideth hope." It is the soul's youthful impulse, by 
which we are cheered and comforted in the vicissitudes and ad- 
versities of our present lot ; and through which, as seeking a 
more enduring substance than it yields, we receive accessions of 
courage and of strength, enabling us to grasp the realities of an 
immortal portion, and to " press forward toward the mark tor 
the prize of our high calling of God in Christ Jesus." 

" Noic abideth hope:'' It is the light of human life, which else 
were cheerless to us. It fulfils a blessed ministry upon the 
present, whilst accomplishing its higher mission for the futui-e. 
It comes to us like an envoy from the Sun of Righteousness, with 
healing in its wings and messages of joy upon its half-opened 
lips. In the exercise of its ministry as shaped to the circum- 
stances of the fallen, and adapted to the conditions of a world 



sitting in darkness and under tlie shadow of death, it tracks its 
path with light, and scatters blessings all along its course. 
Beautiful are its feet upon the mountains, bringing glad tidings 
of good. The lanes and valleys of life rejoice in its visitation, 
and the wilderness and the solitary place are glad for it. It 
comes to us in our days of darkness, which are many, and cheers 
us with the indications of a bright to-morrow. It finds the sky 
of life with clouds upon it, and tinges them with radiant hues ; 
and even when the storm is dark, bursts through its gloom, and 
spans the firmament with its bow of promise. It finds us sink- 
ing, and arrests us ere we fall. It finds us cast down, and 
stretches out its hand to raise us, Never, but at our biddino- 
word, does it leave us or forsake us. It keeps back the invading 
pressure of terrible Despair; and when the scenery of life which 
surrounds our present experience is barren of all comfort, and 
the heart grows sick, it beckons us away to the green pastures 
where the still Avaters which reflect them are radiant with the 
smiles of God. With unfaltering accents it tells us ever of a 
better portion ; and even wlien the earthly dependence fails us 
in our time of need, opens new sources of enjoyment with its 
revealing power — still tells us that the world has pleasant places, 
and that " it is good for us to be here." It transfigures the 
checjuered aspects of our life, and makes them one with its own 
radiant self Like the Only-begotten who begat it, it seeks the 
welfare of mankind, and (/ocs about doing good. It comes to us 
when the heart is sick and leady to faint, and enlivens us with 
friendly words. It invests the spirit of heaviness with the garments 
of praise. It lifts up the hands that hang down and the feeble 
knees ; and when joy comes not with the morning but heaviness 
still endures, it " giveth songs in the night." It transforms itself 
into Expectation, and inspires us with fresh trust to quietly wait. 
It invades the domain of disappointment and the chill recesses 
of deep grief, and peoples them with glad sounds and happy 
sights It makes the pai'ched ground to become a pool, and the 
thii'sty land springs of water. The crooked ways of life are 
made straight before it, and its rough ways smooth. It " goeth 
forth to its work" with man, and its voice is to the sons of men. 



10 

It solaces and consoles us, when it cannot incite and cheer. Re- 
membering our frame, it adapts the exercises of its mission to 
what we are, and whispers " a word in season to him that is 
weary." It speaks witli soothing tones to the ill-fortuned and 
forsaken l)rother, shipwrecked and broken hearted in his voyage 
of life, and encourages him amid "the waves of this troublesome 
world," to tempt the adventurous way once more. It renews 
the face of things, and transmutes to a seeming preciousness the 
crude rough elements it touches. Oh, it has a charmer's power. 
There is a wilderness before it, and a garden of Eden behind : 
before it is despair, lamentation, and woe : behind is the renewal 
of joy, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody. Now abideth 
HOPE. Well for our present happiness it should : well for our 
immortal yearnings that it doth. It is the light that halloweth 
with blessedness our present lot ; and when abiding in compan 
ionship with faith, it guides us to that higher happiness we long 
for, but which we find not here. Now abideth faith and 
HOPE. They walk together, and proceed upon their path hand 
in hand. Hope leans on faith, and foitli on hope — each imparting 
to the other, as they advance, increase of energy — giving and 
taking strength reciprocal, and enabling us under their united 
ministry to maintain our lot in time, and to work out for eterni- 
ty our souls' salvation. Now abideth faith with hope 

But, although they enter thus into the present composition of 
human character, moulding and shaping it in its various conform- 
ations, their existent relationship is restrictive and peculiar and 
limited to the present. For it is only now — in this state as a 
probation, that these two, " faith anel hope abide." Their nature 
and their office are temporary and transient. They are as com- 
missioned servants ; and " the servant abideth not in the house 
forever." Both have their limits, and to each is its allotted pe- 
riod. As FAITH will have at length fulfilled its mission and be- 
come merged in knowledge, so hope will become absorbed in 
fruition, and lose itself in the blessedness of experience — even as 
the Apostle says : " Hope that is seen is not hope : for what a 
man seeth, no longer doth he hope for." Both, as we have inti- 
mated, are only temporary^ as means to an end ; and when they 
shall have served their purpose, each will cease. In the termi- 



11 

nation of His mediatorial woik, "the Author of our faitli" will 
be its " Finisher," and the Inspirer of our hope that " fulness 
of joy," toward which it verged and tended. Now they abide, 
but only in this life. 

Strictly speaking, there will be neither faith nor hope in that 
spiritual condition, which, as the eternal portion of the saved 
and sealed in Christ, is prej^ared for them in heaven. As the 
twilight melts and loses itself in the absorbing and exceeding 
glory of the day on which it neighbors and which it serves to 
introduce, so faith and hope will be finally absorbed in the efful- 
gence of Divine love, and lose their finite identity in the infini- 
tude of '' His fullness who filleth all in all." " When that which 
is perfect is come, then tliat which is in part shall be done away." 

Thus much as to what is transient and inferior in the Apostle's 
statement. Let us pass now to consider what is permanent and 
pre-eminent in his declaration. 

3. "Now Abideth Charity." 

Charity, which abideth in this world with faith and hope, 
enabling them to fulfil their appointad work, ceases not with the 
termination of their ofiice ; but reaching onward into the M'orld 
to come, abideth there forever. It is " the greatest of these 
three,"' both in its office and in its nature. 

Its asserted supei'iority is apparent, in the first place, from the 
fiict of its duration: for "charity never faileth." While fiiith 
and hope abide now and only now, charity abideth both now 
and forever. It has a twofold relation. It is allied to our pres- 
ent state, and connected Avith the permanency of the heavenly 
world. " The greatest of these is charity." 

Its asserted pre eminence over faith and hope is ap])arent, in 
the second place, from the fiict that in its nature it embraces and 
includes all that is of spiritual essence in both. 

In a preceding verse the Apostle aflirms, " Charity believeth all 
things." There is faith. He adds, " Charity hopeth all 
things." There is hope. The exercise of each, you perceive, is 
assigned to charity, as included among its attributes — the attri- 
butes of its present character — or, more strictly speaking, the pre- 
liminary accompaniments of its indwelling presence. 



12 

Let us examine now with a little more of definiteuess, the 
nature of this lasting and pre-eminent grace, as distinctively " the 
greatest of these three." Wherein does its superior magnitude 
consist? and what is the substantial basis of its distinction? 

4. " The greatest of these is Charity " 
Charity (as every intelUgent reader of the New Testament 
must understand) is but another name for love. It is according- 
ly one of the attributes of Deity — nay, we might rather say, M'< 
engrossing attribute: "for God is love; and every one that lov- 
eth is born oi God and kuoweth God." In the abiding of char- 
ity, therefore, "the tabernacle of God is with men ;"' and the in- 
dwelling of LOVE is the in-dwelling of God. " Hereby know we 
that we dwell in Him, and He in us."" 

It is LOVE whick recreates us in the heavenly image, transforms 
us into the Divine likeness, and moulds us into meetness for an 
inheritance among the holy. It is the beginner and sustaiuer of 
spiritual vitality in man. It is, to our heavenly citizenship, that 
surrounding atmosphere, whicli the soul, by the affixed conditions 
of its renewed life, breathes ever wht-n it lives to God. It is 
placed by the Apostle in a position of leadership when enumera- 
jing "the fruits of the Spirit,'' because it is "the greatest." It 
controls the motion of the rest, and holds them in subjection to 
its imperial sway. It is " the very bond of peace and of all vir- 
tues." Without infringement of their identity, but as the great- 
er includes the less, it embraces and comprehends botli taith and 
hope. For " now abideth faith, hope, cliarity, these three," dis- 
tinctly and together, severally and jointly. 

We must •' believe all things ;" and we must " hope all things ;'• 
and in the strength of that indwelling presence of love whereby 
they work, we must do all things which the Gospel enjoins as 
well pleasing in the sight of God. We must ^ walk by faith ;" be- 
cause faith is led on by love, and is "the substance of things hoped 
for." We must lean unto hojie ; because " hope is the anchor of 
the soul," upon which faith depends; and we must yield our- 
selves to charity, because " love is of God. and every one that 
loveth is born of God and knoweth God." In the broad, full 
sense in which it is defined and described in the chapter to which 
our text belones, we must accord to " that most excellent grace" 



13 

the dominion which it claims, and obey the motions of its will : 
for " the end of the commandment is charity." We must open 
our hearts to its gracious influence, that it may enter and abide 
in us. Thus every Christian principle will be ripened into mature 
development and harmonious action ; all " the fruits of the Spu-- 
it," every heavenly grace and virtue, and whatever is requisite 
to that crowning result which draws to itself our desires and en- 
deavors, '' (hat the maji of God may he perfect^ thoroughly fur. 
nishecl unto all good icorks," will be cultivated and live and grow 
in us, subduing imto itself the indigenous produce of our de- 
praved nature, and covering the surfaces of our life with what is 
true and honest, what is just and pure, what is lovely and of good 
report. 

" Xow abideth charity" — noic, emphatically. Its home is in 
the heavenly places, in the " house not made with hands, eternal 
in the heavens :"• but for the accomplishment of its mission upon 
earth, it dwells amongst us, and its tabernacle is with men. 

Now -VBiDETH CHARITY. Let US uot losc sight of this central 
aspect of our subject. Let us remember that Lof:e^ which is the 
element of our eujovnnent in the fixture world, hath its commence- 
ment first, and to a measurable extent, growth and progression 
here. It enters into the texture of what we are, as the index to 
what we shall be. Through the agency of faith that worketh by 
it, having made us the children of God, it ministers to our growth 
in grace and our procession fi-om strength to strength, renewing 
us in His image from glory to glory, and advancing us toward 
that perfection of Divine manhood, " the measure of the stature 
of the fulness of Christ." 

It is the sign and mark in man of Divine life ; and holds a po- 
sition of pre-eminence, as the central attribute of our present 
Christian character, aroimd which, as stars aroimd the source of 
light, all other gifts and graces of the spiritual life revolve. Dark 
in themselves, like those lesser lights which deck the material 
firmament, they shine in their several orbits and make Ufe beauti- 
ful, only as Love shines upon them, and as they move in mutual 
harmony obedient to its supreme control. In divorcement from 
their subordination to the greater hght, and beyond the radiant 



14 

circle of its attraction, they are shorn of their reflected glory and 
pass back into the portion of darkness. 

Even FAITH, leaning unto itself, degenerates to superstition, 
bows to a base servitude, and becomes the minister of sin, " work- 
ing all iincleanness with greediness." It only operates with an 
upward tendency, and " adorns the doctrine of God," when it 
goes forth to its work with chanty and becomes " faith that 
worketh by love." 

Nay, even hope, in its independent action, dissevered from 
FAITH and unconstrained by love — like that Son of the morning, 
who spurned the conditions of his dependent being, and ven- i 
tured upon the ambitious desire " to have life in himself," and | 
who, from his high place among the children of light, was J 
" brought down to the sides of the pit," and quenched his briglit- | 
ness in " the blackness of darkness forever" — even hope, left to 1 
itself, reverses the motion of its aspiration to a grovelling prefer- 
ence, and goes on to recklessness under the impulse of its own i 
desires. It only fulfils its office as the light of life and brightener 
of our being, when it clings to taith and abideth in a living connec- 
tion with charity. It loses the peerless glory which invests it, when 
it wanders from its dependent sphere, and " the light that is in it 
becomes darkness" and a bewildering shadow, "deceiving and 
being deceived." It is "the anchor of the soul," sure and stedfast 
when it clings to the Rock of Ages, and imbeds itself in those prom- 
ises of God which are tea and amen in Christ. But, loosing 
itself from the constraint of love, and relaxing its hold upon the 
one Object of faith, it mocks the anxious eye of the voyager, 
and " the earnest expectation of the creature," which it draws 
to itself in the manifestation of a great deliverance, and sinks as 
lead in the mighty waters. 

" Now," therefore, as of moral necessity, it must — now, as of 
spiritual necessity, it does — "autdeth charity." Without it, all 
other gifts and graces are vain and nothing worth, and stand in 
the religious account only as dross and tin. 

This is a most important consideration ; and there grows out of 
it a wholesome lesson for the present time to learn. 

What we need for a harmonious religious development, is less 



15 

talk and more action — less ritualism and more earnestness — less 
"church" and more Gospel — less theology and more love. The 
prevalent faith of the age, unsettled, wavering, desultory and 
distracted, is as it is, because its reigning spirit has ejected 
charity. And the only adequate remedy for the existing religious 
ailment — the only remedy, which, penetrathig beyond the super- 
ficial symptoms of its aspect, can reach to the inner source of the 
disease, and restore blooming health and warm-gushing life to the 
disordered system, is an infusion of that heavenly element of 
CHARITY Avhich it so sadly lacks. The life of God in the soul ot 
man depends, both for its energies and for its being, upon this 
supply. It can never thrive upon the dry husks of abstract ortho" 
doxy and theological retinement and religious emotion and eccle- 
siastical conceit, which have been for long its allotted rations : It 
must have its meat in due season out of the fulness of God. And 
that fulness is charity : For " God is love." Without this, it 
becomes weak and sick. Without this, it must pine and die. 

The practical application which attaches itself to this feature of 
the subject, has cropped out here and there already in our pass- 
ing review, and for the most part is apparent to observation. For 
the remainder, as lying now upon the surface with the conclusion 
of the whole matter, it suggests itself at once ; and the lesson 
which it teaches is direct and plain. We gather it in a brief 
survey of that aspect of our text which exhibits " faith, hope, 
charity, these three " as abiding now conjimctively. For thus 
dwelling together in the bond of a mutual relation and operating 
their effects in a confluent action, they exemplify an obtaining 
principle which underlies all other gifts and graces of the Divine 
life, and upon which the effectual working of each depends. It 
is in this living coordinate union of the several parts of the reli" 
gious system, and in their conjunctive action, that the great secret 
of spiritual growth is bound up. Both the individual believer 
and the church which is His body, "grow up into Him in all 
things, which is the Head, even Christ," in proportion as their 
religious history is an exemplification of this fact and an illustra- 
tration of this principle. 

By the same Apostle who hints it in our text, the whole matter 



16 

is elsewhere distinctly stated, as entering into the conditions of 
our growth in grace and in the knowledge of God, till we come 
unto the measure of the stature of the perfect man : — " From 
whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by 
that which every joint supplieth, according to the etfectual work- 
ing in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body 
unto the edifying of itself in love." 

This, then, let us remember, and remember again : for we are 
likely to forget it. In discussing religious matters and de- 
fining Christian doctrines, we naturally fall into the scholastic 
lines; and in the adoption of a j^eculiar dialect, we are very apt 
to make use of terms and distinctions which serve to disintegrate 
and exhibit apart what the Revelation of Divine Truth clearly 
presents in a systematic combination and united shape. Under 
such a regimen theologies have grown and thriven: but Christ- 
ianity itself has been dwarfed and starved. Divisions in the sys- 
tem of Christian doctrine produce and perpetuate divisions in 
*' the household of faith." 

In times when love has waxed cold, and as a consequence 
upon this, dissentions abound, many, warmed with dogmatic zeal 
and theological conceit, run uj) and down and to and fro in quest 
of orthodoxy. And the zeal of the house eats it up. In an en- 
grossing predilection for certain 2:>arts of the Christian system, 
whether catholic or peculiar, the remainder of " the faith once 
delivered to the saints " is practically discarded and ignored ; and 
in this overmuch attachment to certain featxire^ of the faith or 
certain notions of the Gospel, the entireness of " the truth as it 
is in Jesus," which is the Gospel itself^ is "passed by on the other 
side." The unity of the faith is set at nought, and charity seeks 
in vain for that in which it rejoiceth. The bond of peace is 
broken, and controversy comes in 'with his rough voice and un- 
meek aspect,' and divides the Christian household into rival sec- 
tions and distinctive classes. Each selects, as the all-in-all for 
importance, some favorite and peculiar doctrine ; invests it, as the 
theological pet, " with a coat of many colors ;" makes a catch- 
word even of its name ; and enshrining it in a peculiar dialect, 
rejoices in that, as the shibboleth of Christianity. 



17 

To counterwork this prevalent tendency, which, in a polemical 
and faithless age, many have realized and more are realizing to 
their spiritual damage and Christian loss, let us cease from Re- 
ligionism and cleave to what is of Faith : Let us turn aside from 
"vain jangling," and "follow after charity which is the bond of 
perfectness " — in which, as it " now abideth," all that is true and 
essential and important in opinion and doctn'ne and practice 
meets and centres and abides. Under the dominion of love, 
" the foundation of our faith standeth sure," and the impulses 
of our hope point in the heavenly direction. The exercises 
of LOVE con.^titute a basis of unity in the bond of peace, 
which is always safe to rest upon ; and if we prefer one gift or 
grace above the others, remembering that " love is of God," let 
it be always charity, because it is Divine, the greatest and the 
best. We shall thus be established upon tJie Gospel as a i)lat- 
form ; cut loose from an overweening attacliment to particular 
members of the body, and tall back upon the body of Christiani- 
ty ITSELF. 

In giving free course to the exercises of this greatest grace, 
this spirit of the Gospel and of its Author, we shall learn to look 
rather upon the full face of Christianity as presented in the Bible, 
than upon its shifting profile as exhibited in the schools ; to sink 
those minor (juestions whicli are not essential to religion, and 
which a healthful and vigorous action of the Christian lite absorbs 
into itself; to think neither of Paul nor of A})ollos, but of the Gos- 
pel, which one may have planted and the other watered, but of 
which only God pours into the heait where love abides and U[)On 
the life in which charity abounds, the blessed increase. 

While, on tlie one hand, we see faith unduly magnified and 
the graces and virtues of a holy life, and " the doctrine which is 
according to godliness," thrust comparatively into the back- 
ground — as if the body were all eye — or while, on the other hand, 
we hear the necessity of good 'works enforced, without a corre- 
sponding emphasis upon the indispensableness oi faith — as if the 
body were all ear — let us side neither to the one nor to the other. 
In a separate view each is wide of the mark, and disjunctively 
both are wrong. They are the two scholastic extremes of the 
time ; and, like the poles af the earth, always cold. 



18 

Let us turn away from each, to those tropical regions of the 
Gospel which are sunned by the genial influences of the Light of 
Light, and rest upon charity, in which the two jarring notes of 
the age are melted and mingled and flow together in harmony ; 
in which faith is the abiding principle and a life that is according 
to godliness the standing evidence of a state of grace ; and with- 
out which, in their joint abiding, under the sway of chanty, all 
religious profession is as sounding brass, and all seeming right- 
eousness but a fond conceit and an empty show. 

Finally, if we understand the nature ot charity ; if we appre- 
ciate its excellence, and admit the asserted fact of its practical 
abiding now, we cannot regard with passive indifference, nor in 
any way apologize for those reigning divisions and dissensions 
which scar the present religious aspect and so sadly retard the 
progress of the Redeemer's kingdom. 

Christianity, let us remember, is an abiding unity. There is 
one Faith, even as there is one Lord. And we know His will 
who is its Author, that all who profess it should be one. It is the 
manifest object of charity as it abideth now, to consolidate the 
Christian elements and make us one. For this, it plies us with its 
gentle ministry, embracing every doctrine, receiving every truth, 
practising every virtue, and living and moving and rejoicing in 
the culture and growth and increase of every grace ; adorning 
the doctrine of God the Saviour in all things ; stamping the im- 
press of its influence upon every separate act of life ; infusing 
more and more of its heavenly spirit into ours ; moulding into a 
Divine likeness the elements of human character to hallow it with 
loveliness ; and fulfilling the remainder of its mission in 
" endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of 
peace." 



FINIS. 



125 



After the Sermon, the choir sang the following 

HYMN. 
Tune — Lknox. 

Ye tribes of Adam, join, 

With Heaven, and earth, and seas, 
And offer notes divine. 
To your Creator's praise. 
Ye holy throng j In worlds of light. 

Of angels bright, | Begin the song. 

The shining worlds above 
In glorious order stand. 
Or in swift courses move. 
By His supreme command. 
He spake the word, j From nothing came. 
And all their frame | To praise the Lord. 

He moved their mighty wheels. 

In unknown ages past ; 
And each his word fulfills, 
Wliile time and nature last. 
In different ways, j His wondrous name, 
His works proclaim | And speak his praise. 

Let all the nations fear 

The God that rules above ; 
He brings his people near, 

And makes them taste his love. 
While earth and sky I His saints shall raise 
Attempt his praise, I His honors high. 

Then followed a speech from Rev. Anson S. Atwood, of Mansfield 
Center, Conn., a native of Woodbury, in reply to the sentiment, 
" The Early Clergy of Ancient Woodbury," nearly as follows : 

Mr. Chairman : — I am called upon to occupy the place of another, 
who has disappointed us — not to fill the gap, that I cannot do. I 
stand here at a short notice, and with no other claim than that I was 
born in this town, my ancestors sleep here, and I represent in person 
a permanent ministry of forty years, and I come to speak a few words 
on the ground of a permanent ministry in this homestead of our 
Fathers. 

The sentiment to which I am to respond is, "The early clergy of 



126 

ancient Woodbury." A noble theme — a rich text, and should the 
exegesis, the commentary on it, entirely fail, you and I shall have the 
mutual satisfaction left us, that the text remains still in all its beauty 
and loveliness in the character and lives of the departed. Hold fast 
the sacred, the precious treasure. It belongs to you 'and yours as 
the riglitful possessors, to be read, studied and loved in all coming 
time. 

Zechariah Walker was the first Pastor of Ancient Woodbury. 
It is a good name — Zechariah — it is a Bible name, and he was a 
Bible man. The church was organized in 1670, and he assumed the 
pastorate. And if tradition tells the truth, and tlie little of history 
that has come down to us, may be credited, he is not to be numbered 
among the minor prophets of his day and placed on the last leaves of 
the Bible. He was not an ordinary man, but made of sterner stuff — 
a man for the times and the work Providence had for him to do ; 
every way worthy to be the minister of that little adventurous band, 
who came from Stratford to explore and seek a home in the wilder- 
ness of Pomperaug ; and when they reached the elevation of that 
western summit, and had gazed and gazed again upon the valley, the 
object of their search, reposing at their feet in all its primitive beau- 
ty and loveliness, they fell on their knees in gratitude to return thanks 
to God, and John Minor offered that memorable prayer, which your 
own historian has recorded — a prayer for a divine blessing on their 
enterprise, and that they might have an upright and godly posterity 
in all coming generations. A prayer that has proved well nigh prophetic 
for ten generations of the descendants of some of these pioneers. 

Yes, Zechariah Walker was fitted for such an enterprise, casting in 
his lot with theirs, comforting and cheering them on in their toils, 
labors, sacrifices and perils in the wilderness, in laying the founda- 
tion of a new order of things. 

For a few of the first years of his ministry, the place of worship 
in the winter was the log cabins of his parishioners ; in the summer, 
the Bethel rock was his sanctuary and altar, the beat of the drum his 
bell, the heavens his sound-board, his chorister unknown, but perched 
on a rocky eminence might be seen the sentinel watching the approach 
of danger, while they bowed the knee of devotion before God. 
There, in the solitude of the forest, the glad tidings of the gospel 
were heard by attentive ears, and the songs of Zion were sung by 
strong and joyful hearts. 

History says of him, that he had a sound mind, was a powerful 
and pungent preacher, that he lived in harmony with his people 



127 

thirty years, died beloved, and sleeps in death with those to whom he 
ministered. 

Anthony Stoddard followed in the pastorate in 1702, A part of 
his name Romany but all the rest of him was Stoddard, from tlie 
crown' of his head to the sole of his foot; and he had a brave, strong, 
Christian heart, that beat full and clear, as it sent out its pulsations 
through all the channels of the duties of his sacred office. Who was 
his father ? Whence came he ? We have the answer. He had an 
enviable descent, from one of the ablest divines New England had 
raised on her soil. Solomon Stoddard, of Northampton, Mass., was 
that father, who had few equals, if any superior, in the ministry of 
that day. He was of a liberal heart, and he gave to the cause of 
Christ some large donations. He had a daughter, Esther, much be- 
loved, and he gave her away to be the wife of the Rev. Timothy 
Edwards, of East Windsor, Conn., and the mother of the immortal 
Jonathan Edwards. He had a son, Anthony, equally beloved, and 
he gave him to Ancient Woodbury. 

This son honored his parentage. His intellect and furniture of 
mind were of a high order ; and one would think from the amount of 
labor he performed, his mind must have been kept from rusting. He 
must have had almost a giant's strength, to have, in no unimportant 
sense, discharged the duties of three professions : that of a pastor, a 
physician, and a councillor or judge, while, it is said, he neglected no 
part of the duties of the ministry. It was from a necessity of the 
times that all these labors devolved upon him. It must be remembered, 
that education was almost entirely with and in the hands of minis- 
ters in the early infancy of our colonial State. Hence, they had to 
do many things that belong to other professions. To teach school- 
masters, and fit them for their work, draw deeds, wills, keep records, 
and even be judges, in same cases, of probate. Many of these bur- 
densome duties pressed upon Stoddard, but he met them cheerfully, 
manfully devoting soul and body and every energy of his being to 
the advancement of the best interests of his flock, temporal and eter- 
nal, and not without blessed results. A long, prosperous and happy 
ministry of sixty years crowned his labors. The divine approbation 
set its seal to his ministry, in permitting him to see almost constant 
additions to the church through the whole period of his ministry, 
numbering in all four hundred and seventy-four persons. 

At an advanced age, having served his generation faithfully, he 
came to the grave, " as a shock of corn fully ripe," and his record 
is on high. 



128 

Noah Benedict, the third pastor of Ancient Woodbury, was or- 
dained October 22, 17 GO. We now come within the recollection of 
living witnesses, to speak of a man whose name is hallowed in the 
memories of many who have gone before me. You remember 
him well — remember him as you remember no other minister 
you ever knew, and loved him as you never loved any other man. 
Nor can I think you wrong in it. My earliest years were impressed 
with the godliness, purity and excellency of his character, as I heard 
it from parental lips with so much adoration and veneration, that 1 
came to feel, long before I knew him, that he was something more 
than a man. And I am not alone in this impression. I have heard 
grave and venerable men, in the profession and out of it, say of him, 
that " he was born a minister, Uved a minister, died a minister ; and 
could not, if he would, have been anything else but a minister ;" a 
minister at all times, in all circumstances, in the pulpit and out of 
the pulpit — a noble minister — a Nathaniel indeed, in whom there was 
no guile. 

There are three men, of the good and the great that I have known, 
that I would like much to hear pray again, of all men I ever heard 
pray, if they might come back to the world for a brief space. Noah 
Benedict, his Deacon, Matthew Minor, and Azel Backus. They are 
better employed. I recall my impertinent wish. 

The venerated pastor of whom I am speaking, and Benjamin 
Wildman of Southbury, were near neighbors, and long tried and in- 
timate friends ; very different were they in natural temperament and 
ministerial gifts and graces. I remember an anecdote I heard in my 
youth, illustrative of the two men. Said one of their brethren, who 
well knew them both and their different gifts, in a circle of Christian 
friends on a certain occasion, " Give me Benedict to pray, Wildman 
to preach, and I get as near to God and Heaven as I ever expect to 
while in the body." 

Amiable, dignified, prudent, godly, a sound divine, a solemn preach- • 
er, a wise counselor, he stood high in the esteem of all that knew him. 
His, too, was a long and useful life. It closed in peace after a pastor- 
ate of fifty-three years, and having gathered into the communion of 
the church 272 members. Good men carried him to his burial and 
wept on his grave. 

And who is it that I see in this chair? My worthy and much 
esteemed friend and class-mate, Nathaniel Benedict Smith. I remem- 
ber he is the son of honorable parentage. On the one hand, descended 
from a father that dignified the bench of justice in our State with 



129 

singular ability and grace ; on the other hand, that he is the grand- 
son of Noah Benedict, whose blood flows warm in his veins to-day. 
I behold in you, sir, Church and State happily united. Whatever 
honors may have alighted on your head, and whatever may come af- 
ter, this is a proud day in the history of your life. It has honor 
enough for one day. 

The sentiment, " The clergy of Ancient Woodbury," is not ex- 
hausted, but time fails me. The rest of the list of these worthies, I 
must hastily group together, with only a passing notice. Of .these, 
may be named, John R. Marshall, John Graham, Thos. Canfield, 
Reuben Judd, Daniel Brinsmade, Jeremiah Day, the father of a son 
of the same name, the ex-President of Yale College, whom a thou- 
sand pupils in the land rise up to-day to call blessed, were settled 
over churches within the limits of Woodbury. Of them it may be 
said, they did a good work for Christ. 

Last, but not least, were the two first pastors of Bethlehem, Joseph 
Bellamy and Azel Backus. Both living lights in their day. Dr. 
Bellamy was truly a great man in the pulpit and out of it. His person 
and his eloquence were attractive and commanding, and when warmed 
up by his subject, he carried his audience whither he would, and such 
a torrent of truth would at times burst forth, that it seemed as if " the 
foundations of the great deep had broken up." 

At the age of thirty, only a few years after the " Great Awaken- 
ing" of 1740, in which he labored abundantly wherever there was 
an opportunity, he produced that masterly work, " True Religion De- 
lineated," that gained him celebrity on both sides of the Atlantic. 
One of the best books in the English language on that subject ever 
written. His works and his ability to defend the truth and demolish 
the error, have never been doubted, and his name will live in all 
coming time, while God's Law is honored on earth and a free and 
full salvation is preached to men. 

No wonder his successor in the pastorate of the church of Bethle- 
hem should feel a deep anxiety for the approval and success of his 
ministry, as indeed he did. His inquiry of the colored man of the 
parish, how his ministry was received, showed this. The answer 
was, " Master Backus, be very good man — preach very well, but no 
make God half so great as Dr. Bellamy." The colored man showed 
his training and improvement under the Greater Master in Israel. 
But had he lived a few years longer, he might have seen that the 
mantle of Elijah had fallen on Elisha. 



130 

What a record this, to embalm in our memories and in our grati- 
tude for our homestead and our mother, of a history of 143 years of 
a successful, permanent, and happy ministry, crowned with the bless- 
ing of God. Ps. xlviii. 12, 14. 

Let God and not man have all the glory. These all died in faith, 
and have received the reward of, " Well done, good and faithful ser- 
vant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I loill make thee 
ruler over many things, enter thou into the joy of your Lord." 



Then followed a volunteer speech from Kev. Thomas L. Sliipnian, 
of Jewett City, Conn., on " The Departed Clergy of the Pres- 
ent Generation," as follows : 

Mr. President: I must occupy your attention but a moment 
at this hour. Give me a fair field and I am a match for my prede- 
cessor in the gift of continuance. Let me tell a story. Good Brother 
Brown, of Oxford, now gone to his rest, came up to my house once, 
on his way to "Ministers' Meeting," early Monday evening. We 
talked till twelve, and then I held the candle for him an hour. Our 
conversation was interrupted by " Ministers' Meeting," on Tuesday 
and Wednesday. We returned Wednesday evening, so late that he 
concluded to pass the night. Thursday morning, after breakfast, we 
resumed conversation, till the family began to set the table for dinner. 
" Upon my word," said he, " is it noon ? I intended to have gone 
home." " You won't go now till after dinner." After dinner we 
resumed conversation till four o'clock ; he suddenly started. " I 
musi go, for I have a meeting this evening." " If you must go, I 
will .get your horse." I led the horse to the door. He stood with 
his foot on the step of his carriage a momeut, when he spoke : " 1 
must go, but Brother Shipman, Iwant to come up and have some con- 
versation with you." 

Having spent the best part of my life within the limits of an- 
cient Woodbury, I esteem it a very kind Providence that I am per- 
mitted to be an eye and ear witness of civic and sacred services 
so full of interest to all the sons of Woodbury, both native and 
adopted. The grateful privilege is given me of recalling the names 
of some of the departed clergy of the present generation, who ful- 
filled their ministry mainly, if not wholly, within the bounds of 
Litchfield South Association. There is Hart, with his keen and 
piercing eye, his ready wit, and severe logic ; there is Griswold, 



«MM 



131 

with his commanding form and sonorous voice, ever prepared to in- 
sinuate Hart's logic with the witchery of liis eloquence. Harrison, 
so gifted by nature that he needed not the adventitious aid of a college 
diploma. Andrew, to whom might be extended what was said of 
Roger Sherman, " A man that never spoke a foolish word," one of 
the purest spirits that earth ever gave to heaven. Brownell, of differ- 
ent natural temperament, but equally an earnest pi'eacher and faith- 
ful pastor, though " dead, he yet speaketh." Gelston, having his 
conversation in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, and keep- 
ing the " even tenor of his way," to a good old age. Butterjield, his 
name is as ointment poured forth, and to mention no more, Smith, 
my nearest neighbor, I seem to feel the beatings of his warm heart 
while I speak; his sun went down while it was yet day, but it went 
down to him in brighter heavens. Precious men of God. We enjoyed 
their friendship while living, we will cherish the memory of their vir- 
tues now that they are dead. I met Mr. Boardman, of New Preston, 
several years after he had left the country. I said to him, " Mr. 
Boardman, have you found another Litchfield South?" " No, and no 
other man ever found but one Litchfield South." I partly believe 
it, wholly this side of the river. The people of this region, " to the 
manor born" — descendants of the old Puritan stock, give strangers, 
whether clerical or laical, their confidence cautiously, but when 
they have given it, they grapple you with " hooks of steel." But I 
must not detain you. The old Spartans were brief in speech, men 
of deeds rather than words. Hence, our word laconic, from their 
Laconia, a word which I greatly fear will have in the next edition of 
Goodrich's Webstei", appended to it, obsolete, unless one of those " in- 
consistent"* Atwoods saves it at the death. That / may honor this 
Spartan virtue, I will close, simply expressing my gratitude for the 
past history of Woodbury, and as the best wish of my heart, that her 
sons in all future time may prove worthy of their ancient sires. 

The exercises of the forenoon were closed by the following Ad- 
dress delivered in behalf of the Old Pioneer Church, by Deacon 
Truman Minor, of Woodbury. 

" The children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of 
light."— Lw^e 16:8. 

Brethren : We live in an era which is peculiar for eulogies and 
praises bestowed on almost every service done to our State and coun- 



* In allusion to Mr. Bacon's portraiture of the Atwoods. 



132 

try. Every gift and talent thus employed is cheered in trumpet 
tones from the capital of our confederacy to the extremity of our 
territories, proclaiming the deeds of those that have lived and now 
live. Assemblies are convened, resolutions are passed, monuments 
erected ; they are seen on Groton Heights and Bunker Hill, and on 
Roxbury slopes ; they are designed as so many sparkling stars to 
proclaim the daring deeds of American heroes. Sculpture now 
comes forward to the rescue, and carves in solid marble the forms and 
features of those that have been .honored and applauded by the men 
of the world. Atheneums are built, the relics of antiquity are gath- 
ered and stored. The camp-chair of him, once the terror of all 
Europe, is sought and obtained. Bricks from Nineveh are trans- 
ported. Hartford oaks are immortalized, and fragments of it in- 
troduced into the parlors of the fashionable and great, all for the 
purpose of handing down to posterity the names and deeds of men, 
not more exmplary in their lives than wei'e the Twelve Apostles, nor 
more benevolent in their deeds, or patient in suffering, or forbear- 
ing an insult, or more inclined to bridle their tongues for fear of giv- 
ing offence ; and yet they are more often quoted and boasted of as 
the wonder of the world, and so many radiating points that should 
attract every mortal- eye and claim an adoring prayer from every one 
that passes by, exclaiming : " These be thy gods, O Israel ! that 
brought thee up out of the land of Egypt and out of the house of 
bondage." And yet, brethren, these are all pi'oper in their place ; 
they have their respective claims, and, so far as we should, we are 
ready to pay them our respect and sincere homage ; we honor those 
men, we admire their philanthropy, we mark the patriotism which 
characterize their lives. Brethren, there is still a set of objects and 
men that have more attracted our attention, nearly eclipsed our 
vision — men and objects for which we have the highest personal 
respect, whose memory and moral worth should be embalmed in the 
heart and practiced in the life of each member of the old honored 
Pioneer Church forever. Men that entered into covenant wtth God 
and one another, and took their lives in tlieir hands and left Egypt and 
came up into this once wide howling wilderness to plant a Church, 
surrounded with beasts and savages more wild and ferocious than the 
lions and Hotentots of Africa. Here in this pleasant valley and 
mountain fastnesses, they commended themselves and their cause to 
God ; they came here under the guide and direction of the Divine 
hand, in the possession of the promise : " Lo, I am with you alway 
even unto the end." They came with a charge superior to that given 



133 

by the Elders of Israel to Boaz and Ruth saying, " Be fruitful and 
multiply, and let your seed possess the gates of their enemies." They 
have been fruitful and obedient, they have driven out the heathen, 
their enemies, and have taken possession of the land which the Lord 
their God gave them. Their children have multiplied. Lift up your 
eyes, my brethren, and see what mean these hallowed domes, these 
public altars on which the fires of devotion have for generations burnt. 
A little one has, under the blessing of God, almost become a nation. 
Go with me up and down these valleys, and over these hills, and 
behold these their covenant children, the legitimate offspring of a cov- - 
enant wedlock. These ecclesiastical societies, these orthodox churches, 
are the fruits which the Old Pioneer has borne. The Second Con- 
gregational Church in this town is but the other half of ourselves. 
The Episcopal Church here is one of our junior brethren. The 
Methodist Church is one of our younger, tender sisters ; the Church 
in Southbury is Reuben, the first born, the beginning of strength. 
The Church of Bethlem is a son of the roya,l family ; the Churches of 
Washington and South Farms are of kindred blood ; the Churches 
of Watertown, Middlebury, Roxbury, South Britain and a part of 
Oxford, are the spiritual children of the sacramental pair. 

Mr. President, and Brethren, I said in my commencement that 
'' the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the 
children of light ; " this ought not so to be. It is time for the Church 
to assert her right to her own sons, and exercise her power. Her 
worldly competitors should not pluck the laurels from her brow and 
bear them away in triumph ! What if we cannot, as do they, boast 
an uncouth Putnam, or an Ethan Allen, who demanded the surrender 
of a fort commanded and defended by British foes, with a roughness 
and profanity that would chill the blood in the veins of the Puritan 
Fathers, and make the cheek of modesty turn pale : — yet we can 
speak of important service done by the sons of the church to our 
country. We can boast of their demanding the surrender of a fort 
in this once wilderness, commanded by old Apollyon and garrisoned 
by fallen angels, where, in the midst of their fiendish games and 
their revelry, were heard ever and anon the yell, the savage cry, and 
the war-whoop. A demand, not like Allen's, made in the name of a 
Continental Congress, but from higher authority, in the name of 
Heaven's Imperial King, did those dauntless soldiers of the cross 
press, till these sons of perdition were compelled to come out of their 
wretched dens, and, like the regulars of old, htu-mlessly gnash their 
teeth on their victors, and as they retired, break up their arms on the 
16 



134 

stumps and stones in their way. Had I the strength and the power, 
I would raise ray voice to thunder-tones, and from pole to pole pro- 
claim these men and their deeds immortal. We stand here to-day, 
my brethren, in these mountain gorges, the representatives of a church 
and a race of men of whom the world was not worthy. What if 
they did wander about a while in sheeps skins and goats' skins, 
afflicted, tormented ? They bore the marks of Heaven's high appro- 
val ; they held in their hands a bond for a deed of the land of Canaan. 
All along the banks of the river of life these men made fast to the 
rock of ages by the everlasting couplings of a Heaven-imparted faith, 
secured thereto by the Omnipotent strength of a God-sustaining cove- 
nant. They outrode the storms and changes of mortal years, and are 
now safely gathered in the Paradise above. 

But I forbear. The current of my feelings has drawn me out into 
deep water, beyond the seaworthiness of my boat. I will now return 
to those famihes as they came up from Stratford, or " Egypt," as I 
have called it. Those families brought up the ark, the tabernacle, 
and the testimony. It was of Divine direction that some order be 
preserved in the moving, the setting up, and the taking down of the 
tabernacle ; its boards, tenons and furniture. To effect this it was 
necessary to make a selection from those families. This was done, 
and the family of the Minors was taken. Some name by lot must 
be chosen, ana the name of John was taken. And now, Mr. Presi- 
dent, and Brethren, we can with truth say of this man, he was faith- 
ful in all his house ; he was faithful to the trusts committed to his 
charge ; he was a man of faith and of prayer ; he trusted in the cov- 
enant mercy of a covenant-keeping God, who has said : " I will be a 
God to thee, and thy seed after thee." That promise has not yet 
failed. God has not left him without a man of his own name and 
blood, for one hundred and ninety years, to serve at the table and 
tabernacle of his and their covenant Lord. Here is the furniture* 
which he and they have kept and handled. In these did he bear to 
their brethren and sisters the emblems of the body and blood of their 
common Redeemer. From these have they communed with God 
and one another. Hallowed remembrances ! Glorious keepsakes ! 
Let them linger around our memories ; let them be bound to our 
hearts forever ; let them, and the elements they bear, serve as a gold- 
en chain to bind us to God and each other ; and had not God, in his 
inscrutable providence, moved our respected and learned Historian f 

* The furniture presented to view. t W. Cotln-en, Historian of Woodbury. 



135 

to take up the woudrous tale of these and the old Pioneer Church 
history, it would doubtless have remained in darkness and forgetful- 
ness forever. I might speak of the succession of officers in this 
Church, bearing the name of Minor ; I might tell you of Samuel, 
of Jehu, of Jonah, of Clement, of Josiah, of Matthew, of 
Seth ; these men were renowned for their piety, some of them pecu- 
liarly so for their heavenly mindedness, their self-denial, their watch- 
fulness and prayerfulness, their strictness in conversation on the Sab- 
bath, their entire reservedness in word and action on that holy day ; 
their punctuality in the house of God, and their attendance on all the 
means of grace ; their reading and their familiarity with the Scrip- 
tures ; their strict honesty between man and man ; their law-abiding 
reverence of those set in authority over them ; the utter impossibility 
of bribing them to do evil ; their absolute hatred of all that was 
wrong ; their readiness to give and receive of the things that were 
good ; their tenderness and teachableness ; in a word, for all that 
makes up the Christian character in fallen man. Among these migh- 
ty men in the Scriptures, perhaps none were more so than the late 
Dea. Matthew Minor — he had read the Scriptures through by 
course sixty times ! He was as familiar with them as the scholar is 
with his nouns and pronouns ; the Bible was his constant companion 
— he carried it into the field ; its sacred pages were his delight. He 
would often exclaim, " Oh, how love I thy law ! it is daily my delight : 
I esteem thy precepts more than my necessary food." Brethren, 
although the mighty have fallen, the weapons of their warfare have 
not perished — they are still mighty, through God, to the pulling down 
of strongholds. Shall the mantle of such men fall to the ground ? 
Will we not emulate these men ? Shall the glory depart ? Shall 
Ichahod be written upon us ? Shall the house of Eli be cut off here ? 
God forbid ! Let us feel to-day, my brethren, that we are covenant 
children. We are the circumcised of the Lord, the promises are 
ours, they were made to our fathers and their children. We are a 
peculiar people — a royal priesthood — a holy nation ; and we do to-day 
acknowledge God before this assembly as the Author of our adoption ; 
we here avouch the Lord Jehovah to be our God, as he has been the 
God of our fathers. He has shown himself a covenant-keeping God. 
He gave our fathers and us faithful teachers, godly pastors, holy men, 
who wrestled like Jacob and prevailed like Israel; they were the 
anointed of the Lord ; the holy anointing oil was upon them ; like 
Aaron, the priest, they wore the breastplate of righteousness before 
the Lord, on which was engraven the names of the twelve covenant 



136 

sons of Jacob — a Heaven-appointed token of mercy to us and our 
childi'en. Those men have stood between the living and the dead ; 
they have turned away wratli from the people ; they have been faith- 
ful watchmen, trumpets of a certain sound, that men might prepare 
themselves for the battle ! they were instant in season and out of sea- 
son ; they shunned not to declare the whole counsel of God, whether 
men would hear or forbear. Among the worthies that have prevailed 
to turn away wrath from our fathers and us, as a covenant people, 
are the Reverend names of Walker, of Stoddard, of Benedict 
— of whom it was said, as of the prophet Jeremiah, that he was born 
holy; of Strong, his successor, I shall say but little. His ministry 
was short. He thought to teach the inhabitants of the old town a 
new theology, which consisted in the amalgamation of sheep, and 
fowls, and swine — a mixture of warp and woof, all contrary to the 
law and the commandment, which says : " Thou shalt not sow thy 
fields with divers kinds of seed." The other men in the pastoral 
office have been worthy of their predecessors, of whom was the Rev. 
Mr. Andrew, Rev. Mr. Curtis, and Rev. Mr. Williams, our pres- 
ent beloved and esteemed pastor. Such have been the fathers' and 
the children's pastors and teachers. We have, my brethren, been 
dandled in the lap of piety ; we have been trained in the school of 
the prophets ; we have been brought u^i, like Paul, at the feet of 
Gamaliel; — may we show ourselves worthy of our noble sires and 
our holy training. 

One word more, Mr. President, in relation to the Minor family, 
and I have done. It has been tauntingly said that nothing could be 
scored or hewed from that name but Deacon timber. Sir, I glory in 
the reproach, yet I deny the charge. There have been men of this 
name and race that have filled important offices in the land ; one has 
received the highest gift of the people of this State — he has filled 
the Executive chair for two successive years, and filled it honorably ; 
the taunt is therefore groundless. 

But I am admonished that it is time, high time, for me to close. I 
will do so, in one word. And now, sir, let mine be the shame, and 
let it be the shame of my children, if shame it be, that they and I 
have lived and died the God-appointed, God-accepted, man-approved 
Deacons of the Old Pioneer Church. 

After another re-union at the refreshment tents, the booming can- 
non, and the music of the Band, again called the delighted multitude 
to the Speakers' tent, where the exercises of the last afternoon were 



137 

opened, on the part of the choir, by singing with hearty joy, the fol- 
lowing 

ODE. 

BY WILLIAM COTHREN. 

Air — "Sweet Home." 

Thrice welcome the day which now brings to the mind, 
The deeds of our fathers, so noble and kind ; 
An incense of sweetness breathes out on the air, 
The incense of welcome, the incense of prayer. 
Home, home, sweet, sweet home, 

No place like our firesides, 

No place like our homes. 

The earth has grown old for full many a year. 
Since the people of God came to worship Him here ; 
And the graves are moss-grown of the sturdy old stock, 
Who prayed in their Bethel, the shade of the Rock. 
Home, &c. 

Oh ! shades of tlie mighty, most faithful of men, 
Will the meed of your virtues e'er greet us again ? 
* A halo of glory surrounds each fair brow. 

Which shall shine in yon Heaven forever as now. 
Home, &c. 

Then followed a speech in reply to the Sentiment, "Tak Early 
Lawyeks of Ancient Woodbuy," by Hon. Seth P. Beers, of 
Litchfield, Conn., a native of Woodbury, which is as follows : 

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlebien : — In the order of 
exercises arranged for this afternoon, we were to have been favored 
with an address by John Lorimer Graham, Esq., of New York, on 
" THE early Lavtyers OF ANCIENT WooDBURY." In the absence 
of Mr. Graham, I am kindly requested to occupy the time assigned 
to him in such remarks as I may deem appropriate to the occasion. 

In meeting the call thus made upon me, it cannot be expected that 
I should occupy the ground allotted to him, for the subject matter 
requires some previous preparation. Nevertheless, while expressing 
my regret that this interesting feature of our commemoration should 
be passed by without that proper notice which your Committee con- 
templated, I will so far step into the gap, as to notice and relate an 
anecdote of the earliest Lawyer in Woodbury. Till about a century 
ao-o — whether there were occasion for it before, I cannot say — the 



138 

ancient town was not blessed with the services of a resident Lawyer. 
Its first legal practitioner was HezeHah Thompson, Esq., who came 
here about 1757, and built a house in the south part of the town, 
which he occupied till his death. This house is still owned by his 
descendants. 

He was a sound lawyer, an able advocate, and withal a man of 
strict integrity, and a peace-maker. He was distinguished also in 
his time as a man of wit and humor. The anecdote I propose to 
relate, will show this. 

A person from abroad called on IMr. T., introducing himself as a 
relative. After canvassing the genealogy, the relationship was found 
to be very remote, and Mr. T. was quite disposed to turn a cold 
shoulder upon his country cousin. The visitor continued his stay, 
accompanying his host wherever he went, whether invited or not, 
till his presence became irksome, and the good lawyer determined to 
shake him off. Meeting one of his neighbors, he introduced his vis- 
itor as a relative. The neighbor inquired whether he was brother, 
or uncle, or nephew, or cousin. " Nearer than that," replied the 
squire. " From the best information I can gather from him, I find 
that my grandfather mended a side-saddle for his grandmother." 
This indefinite hint was definitely taken, and the country cousin 
made a speedy exit. 

Recurring now, Mr. President, to the broad provisions of your 
invitation, I hardly know what to begin with. Almost every topic 
appropriate to the occasion has been anticipated and exhausted in 
the very interesting and elaborate historical address to which we 
listened yesterday. I am left, therefore, to glean in a very limited 
and exhausted field, or to seek in some private nook of it which may 
have escaped the vigilance of those who have preceded me, materials 
for the few remarks which are asked from me. 

Though we have been invited here to celebrate the two hundredth 
anniversary of the exploration of " Ancient Woodbury," I presume 
we are not expected to roam over the whole of that inclusive periocf, 
but may be allowed to confine ourselves to events within a much 
shorter space of time. I must presume upon it, that so long as what 
1 may have to say has a historical reference, I am free to select my 
ground, and occupy it pretty much as I choose. 

Under this impression, in the few plain remarks which I propose 
to submit, I shall confine myself to a term of time within the memory 
of men noto living — a period which embraces events as important 
as any which have accrued witliin these two centuries. 



139 

I go back to seventy-pAght years ago ; and from that stand-point 
glance over the succeedmg time. 

What great and notable events have occurred in our country within 
this space of a man's life ! It has witnessed the organization of our 
American Republic, and its happy settlement under the architect of 
its Independence. It has seen that greatest among great men, the illus- 
trious Washington, with his successors in the Presidency, Adams, 
Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, and others highly distinguished, 
who have come in their places, gathered to their fathers. It has 
seen the brilliant career of such eminent men as Jay, Franklin, Mar- 
shall, Clay, Webster, and many other distinguished men of whom 
this nation has reason to be proud, begun and ended. It has seen 
the progress of our country from feebleness to strength, and from 
comjDarative insignificance to importance among the nations. It has 
seen villages grown into cities, and territories ripened into States — 
our western wilderness subdued by the enterprise of industry, and 
become the granary of the world. It has witnessed an era in the 
annals of popular education unparalleled in the history of the world. 
What has it not seen ? 

Within this period of seventy-eight years there have come into 
use Canals, Steam Engines, Railroads, Telegraphs, and (almost) 
a trans-Atlantic Cable. This space of seventy-eight years has been 
fruitful of great events — of events more important to the welfare of 
this nation, than any which have occurred since the landing of our 
forefathers upon this continent. 

And yet on the 1st day of July, 1781 — or, (if I may be allowed 
the three days of grace to which the most simple mercantile instru- 
ment is entitled,) I will say seventy-eight years ago on ih.Q fourth of 
July, an event occurred, more important to him who now addresses 
you, than any other which has taken place during the whole period. 

WHAT WAS IT ? 

In yonder mansion, late the residence of the much lamented and 
Hon. Charles B. Phelps, on the first fourth day of July, 1781, was 
found puling in its nurse's arms, a guild — now, the humble indi- 
vidual who addresses a generation that knew not Joseph. Such is 
the record in his grandmother's Bible, and who claims to question 
the authenticity of such documentary evidence, whether in the text 
or notes ? In the text of that sacred book you will find from whence 
(through his grandfather, Seth Preston,) that child derived his chris- 
tian name ; and although the original possessor of the name lived 



140 

nine hundred and twelve of what was then called years, and though 
some of my good friends suppose that I have a perpetual lease of 
life, — I assure them that my lease has already expired, and I am 
now only an occupant upon sufferance. 

My coming hither to-day, seems a completion of the circle of my 
life. It brings me round to the point whence I started, and connects 
the termination of the line with its beginning ; amid the scenery of 
my early days the experiences of my early life come back to me. 

And now while liere, a reminiscent, with the aid of objects around 
me, which call to mind the early events of a life which must soon 
terminate, and of which tlie present generation possesses little if any 
knowledge, my thoughts naturally linger upon that early portion of 
my life, which was passed in this my birth-place. 

Whatever opinions may be entertained by others on this subject, 
so far as it respects myself, there is no part of my life to which I 
recur with greater satisfaction, or of which I am more proud, than 
the first chapter of my history. It would deface the rest, if that 
were obliterated from the account. Some person has said, (I don't 
remember who — but am willing to stand sponsor to the sentiment,) 
" the best and most important section of every man!s life is its first." 
I go back, therefore, to my best, and begin with the beginning. 

I can say of myself, that I am "native and to the manor born; " 
and if I am entitled to indulgence anywhere, for lingering upon per- 
sonal details, I may fairly claim it here. As no person will be likely 
to undertake my biography, I may as well, perhaps, do it myself. 
The first twenty years of my life were passed in this, my birth- 
place ; and I shall only sketch this quarter of it, as belonging to the 
town. 

My father, in right of my mother, possessed what was considered 
a handsome estate, in those early days. When I was yet a boy, by 
losses on Continental bills and mercantile misfortunes, he became 
what might be fairly called a poor man. I may say, therefore, that 
self-reliance was my birth-right. It has often been my boast, that 
lam descended from a long line of illustrious tailors ; and in my 
early career in this latitude, I so far followed in the footsteps of my 
illustrious ancestry as to attain some knowledge in the mystery and 
craft of needle and thread — an acquaintance which has been of great 
service to me through life, especially in those twenty-five years of it 
which were devoted to the service of the State in travelling through 
New England and the West. And had a certain distinguished func- 
tionary in a sister State possessed the early advantages which I enjoyed 



141 

in this respect, his government would probably have never been saddled 
with that notable charge of fifty cents for mending his inexpressibles. 

I remember also to have served a temporary apprenticeship with 
a silversmith, whose shop stood just north of the Episcopal Church. 
It is not unlikely that I should have gone on to eminence in tliis 
sterling trade had I persevered in it ; but ^a mishap turned the cur- 
rent of my life. In an evil hour, as I was pouring some moulten 
brass into a wet mould, my eyes became thoroughly closed for sev- 
eral months — and ever after, upon that avocation. 

Like all New England boys, who are bred to face the world, I 
learned the several mysteries of farming, gardening, store keeping, 
and " doing chores," and I think I may say it, without boasting, I 
acquitted myself in all with honor, if not distinction. 

When I look on those rocks and mountains at the East, and upon 
Bare-Hill in the West, they stand associated with recollections of 
my boyhood in Woodbury — I remember with the vividness as of 
yesterday, when, in the autumn and winter, with my box traps, I 
caught two or three rabbits a night, and when, at the close of the 
trapping season, I marched proudly with my furs to John Clarke, the 
Hatter. And even in the height of his prosperity, John Jacob Astor 
never returned from Columbia river to the New York market with 
his cargo of furs, more elated with success, than I, with my cargo 
under my arm, to the Pomperaug market. 

In gazing upon these mountains and wooded hills, (about the only 
things around me which continue as they were,) I remember, and it 
is a pleasant recollection — of having cut and drawn home upon my 
hand-sled, both from the East Rock, and from Bare-Hill, numerous 
loads of fire-wood. Thus industrious habits and an active life, 
coupled with that self-dependence which I learned as an early les- 
son, enabled me to face my destiny, and to work my way in the 
world with a fair measure of success. 

With the aid and instruction of the best of mothers, and with such 
educational facilities as the neighborhood afforded, at an early period 
I entered a College, where in a few short years, I was prepared 
for my future life, and graduated with due honors. 

Do you inquire, what was the name of this College — where it was 
located — and who was its President ? Its catalogue, I believe, was 
never published — or if published, it was like other things of that 
sort, in an unknown tongue. When translated into our modern 
phrase, it would be called The People's College. Its President 
in my day was Lemuel Reed. The College edifice, which was about 
17 



142 

fifteen feet square, more or less, (probably the latter,) was located on 
the side of the street below us, nearly in front of your historian's 
residence. After finishing my course at a " Select School " for a 
short time, I entered the family of Hon. Nathan Preston, where I 
remained for five years ; and your town and Probate records from 
1796 to 1801 will furnish you some standing testimonies in black and 
white, that I rendered the town and its officers some service before 
I left it. 

While m the family of Judge Preston, I read law under Noah B. 
Benedict, Esq., for about a year, when I emigrated to Litchfield, and 
there, in the office of Ephraim Kirby, Esq., and of Judge Reeve, 
completed my legal studies, and was admitted to the Bar in 1805. 

As to the subsequent lines of my history, and the record of some 
things that I have do7ie — but not of much that I have said, (for I 
have, especially in modern times, been more of an acting than a talk- 
ing man,) behold they are written in the book of Oothren, your 
Historian. 

Thus at the risk of worrying your patience, and of incurring the 
charge of egotism, I have run over that portion of my history which, 
including the first twenty years of my life, was passed in this my 
native town, and properly belongs to it. 

And now after the lapse of nearly threescore years since my emigra- 
tion, I return to the home of my youth, and find myself for the most 
part, a stranger among strangers. I can recognize only here and there 
a familiar countenance in this spacious sea of faces ; and there are 
very few in this multitude of the sons and daughters of Woodbury, 
who recognize me. 

And noAv in conclusion, permit me to inquire : 

Where are my cotemporaries ? 

Where are my class-mates of the Pomperaug College ? 

Where are the twenty-two students of that sister College, which 
stood at the base of Masonic-Hall-Rock, in which I was preferred to 
a tutorship in 1798 ? Your worthy President is the only one 
now present. 

Where are the thirteen young lads, of whom I was one, who in 
1796 planted a liberty-pole on that same rock, and celebrated the 
twentieth anniversary of our National Independence ? Here is the 
original list of their names in my hand, with the bill of expenses 
amounting to 5s. 2d., sterling. 

Where are the eighteen young ladies, who, with those young men 
on the evening of that day, more than sixty years ago, attended the 



143 

Ball at Cunningham's Hall ? From the original list before me, not 
one appears to be present. 

Where are the many friends and acquaintances whom I left here 
in 1801? 

With the exception of the Minors, Judsons, and Attooods, who 
are stereotyped in the town's accounts, where are the ancient families 
of Ancient Woodbury ? 

I can answer as to my own family, who were all here in force when 
I emigrated, that the name of Beers has become extinct in the 
town ; and all that now remains here of the Beers blood has flowed 
back into a branch of my mother's family, and the name is lost in 
that of Preston. 

The annals of my father's family are for the most part to be found 
upon the monuments in yonder grave-yard. With the exception of 
myself, the solitary remainder of a generation that has passed away, 
and a few descendants of my sister, all are gone. Having reached 
that extreme point in human life which is close upon fourscoi-e years, 
though still in the enjoyment of health and strength, and hardly 
feeling in its full weight the burden of my years — for which I bless 
God, and am thankful, — I cannot but feel that my coming hither on 
this occasion is as a bringing together the two ends of the line, and a 
making up of the circle of my history. Farewell. 

" The Early Physicians op Ancient Woodbury," by David 
B. W. Hard, M. D., of Bethlem, Conn. 

It is a very pleasant thing to pass in review, a succession of kind 
and benevolent deeds. And if the aspect of human suffering is not 
agreeable to look upon ; yet the efforts made by the benevolent, the 
kind hearted, and the capable, to mitigate and relieve it, draw invol- 
untarily from the human heart, the aspiration, God bless you ! 

Such has always been the mission of the physician in ancient 
times, as well as at the present. But the matter uppermost in our 
minds to-day is, those ancient men who first peopled this pleasant 
valley, and who, by degrees, pushed their homes as so many out-posts, 
among these loveliest of New England hills. 

" The early physicians of Ancient Woodbury," is the sentiment 
just announced in our hearing, and I now purpose making a few ob- 
servations respecting them. 

And I will remark here, that it is to be regretted that there is so 
little of their particular and individual history left remaining to us. 



144 

1 have lately made some search in this direction, but without much 
result. The printed page of their history is brief and general, and 
oral tradition, which was so rich a store, has within the last ten or 
twelve years, been almost wholly lost, owing to the successive removal 
from among us of those old men who had it in their keeping. The 
current of time has swept it away from us ; but like as other currents 
that once existed in the natural world, in a former age, long since past, 
have lefp behind them their history sculptured in the bosom of the 
living rock ; so with these men, their history as it has been passing 
from among us, has worn for itself channels in our memories, which 
will not be easily eifaced. If their particular and individual history 
is somewhat obscure, tlieir general history remains, and it is of this 
I shall speak. 

Intimately associated with my earliest remembrance, are certain 
names, which when spoken in my hearing, always at that time im- 
pressed me with the profoundest degree of veneration and respect. 
These were the names of certain physicians, who once lived within 
the ancient limits of this town ; and truly may it be said of them, 
" that a man's works follow him ;" tor such is the repute they have 
left behind them, it would clearly indicate that one of two things must 
be true, either that they were greatly over-rated, or they were truly 
men of enlarged and elevated attainments in their profession. 

If we concede it to be a fact, that the cotemporaries of these men 
were their best judges, and that that judgment has been expressed 
in the traditionary history that has come down to us, then we have 
unqualified assurance, that as physicians, these men ranked in their 
profession among the first and chiefest men in the Colony or State. 

In reviewing their history, we find them prominently employed in 
the public offices of the town ; forward and public spirited during the 
revolutionary struggle ; elected to the office of surgeon in the army, 
and discharging the duties of this office with untiring fidelity, to a de- 
gree that attracted the attention of the commander-in-chief, so that 
on some of them, Washington bestowed tokens of his special appro- 
bation ; and in their public, as well as their pi'ivate calling, these men 
seem to have filled to the full, the measure of their useful lives. 

From the best sources of information extant, it would appear that 
no physician accompanied the first settlers in the valley of the Pom- 
peraug, and how soon one may have arrived afterward, does not ap- 
pear. The earliest date of such physician's residence here, set down in 
Cothren's History of Woodbury, is 1701. And it would appear from 



145 

whatever information I can gather, touching this matter, that the first 
settlers resided here without a competent medical adviser, for a period 
of about twenty years. And it is probable that the early pioneers 
depended more for their physical well being, upon good constitutions 
and temperate living, than upon that cunning subtlety of man's in- 
vention, known as the science of medicine. 

But luxury has ever crept into the most simple and primitive of 
all civilized communities ; and so in this instance, we find it a matter 
of history, that in 1701, the settlement in Woodbury were indulging 
in the luxury of a resident physician. 

From this time onward, I find an unbroken succession of intelli- 
gent, distinguished, and worthy men, regularly trained and inducted 
into their profession, according to the custom of those times, residing 
not only in Woodbury, but in Bethlem, Judea, Roxbury and South- 
bury. 

I said they were- trained and inducted into their profession accord- 
ing to the custom of those times. Those splendid universities of 
medical learning at Edinburgh, at London, and at Paris, which, like 
planets of the first magnitude, shed their light over the civilized 
world, were too remote, and too expensive, for the poor student of 
this western wilderness. But their healing streams reached him, and 
he drank deep from their fountains of wisdom. 

The mode pursued at that time to acquire the knowledge and the 
qualifications, which made the physician, was this : the candidate 
entered the office of some one already high and distinguished in the 
profession ; an ample library furnished the knowledge ; and the stu- 
dent learned to apply that knowledge by accompanying his preceptor 
when he visited the sick. And in this mode acquiring such a knowl- 
edge of the profession, and such degrees of excellence and attainment 
were often reached in the end, that it frequently occurred that the 
savans of our own Yale College spontaneously conferred upon him 
the honorary degree of Doctor in Medicine. 

We see then that the standard of learning among the physicians 
of Ancient Woodbury Avas not low, but that here in the wilderness, 
medical learning took root, grew, and flourished like the gigantic oaks 
it dwelt among. 

It was among such men as these, that our Connecticut Medical So 
ciety had its origin ; and this medical society, from its first inception, 
moved steadily onward, and did not tire, till they had instituted and 
founded the medical institution of Yale College. 

These men felt an inexpressible contempt for that impudent and 



146: 

vulgar pretence, which characterizes the quack, who is too lazy 
to work, too io;norant to be employed in any of the occupations of 
mind, but feels within himself a peculiar talent to fatten on the 
credulity of that portion of the community, whose love of the won- 
derful and the marvelous, eclipses their understanding, and obscures 
their common sense. 

I have hitherto spoken of these men collectively, and I feel an un- 
willingness to individualize them, making distinctions among them, 
pointing to the excellences of some, and the defects of others. My 
desire is to pay that tribute to them all which is their due. And yet 
it is difficult to pass silently by such names as Perry in Woodbury, 
Hawley and Meigs in Bethlem, Fowler in Judea, Eastman in Rox- 
bury, and Graham in Southbury. We have inherited these names, 
among the cherished traditions that have come down to us from our 
ancestors. These men were highly appreciated by the cotemporary 
inhabitants among whom they dwelt. They were all of them men 
who " went about doing good," sympathizing with the attlicted and the 
suffering. And their sympathy was of that kind which takes to it- 
self form and action, and which manifests itself in benevolent deeds. 

We read in a history of the highest authority, that a man living in 
an eastern country, started to go to the town of Jericho, that he fell 
among thieves, was beaten, and left for dead. vSundry persons, one 
of whom was a priest, even, saw him lying there, bleeding and dying, 
but they all passed by on the other side. At length a certain Samar- 
itan passed that way, saw him, and had compassion on him, dressed 
his wounds, sat him on his own beast, brought him to an inn, and 
took care of him. 

A thousand generations since then, have lived and passed away, 
and the act in the scene just described, has touched the hearts of all ; 
and all have united in bestowing upon him the surname of the " Good 
Samaritan." 

I have alluded to this scene in sacred history, that it might assist 
us here to-day, to realize the character and practical lives of those, in 
behalf of whose memory I am endeavoring to gain a hearing. " I 
would draw back the curtain that has fallen between them and our- 
selves, that we may once more gain a few transient glimpses of these 
practical Good Samaritans. 

Stricken down by disease, or crushed to the earth by accident, man 
feels in his heart, "alas, what is to become of me !" And while the 
community at large, engrossed in their own pursuits, pass by on the 



147 

other side, these good Samaritans, the physicians of Ancient "Wood- 
bury, did up their wounds, and took care of them. 

Did I hear some one say they were paid for it ? True, my friend, 
compensation sometimes followed ; but appeals to their charitable 
offices were unremitted, almost every day in the year, and like good 
Samaritans, they responded to those appeals. And if they were so 
well paid, where are those ample estates left behind them after their 
own decease ? Echo answers — where ! Let us honor these men, 
and do justice to their memories ; for in doing so, we do honor to our 
own human nature. 

In those days of practical good sense, almost every household had 
their family physician. Once chosen to be physician of the family, 
he usually remained so until his own decease occurred. This resulted 
in an incalculable amount of good, for the physician felt a permanent, 
a continued, an abiding interest in the family. And he gained an ac- 
curate knowledge of those varied peculiarities, which have so much 
to do in modifying disease. And from the opportunity that was al- 
lowed him, these varied peculiarities which will assume different 
forms in different families, became to him subjects of study and scru- 
tiny ; and in consequence of his knowledge thus gained, he would 
often relieve their sickness as if it had been done by a power of 
magic. 

The confidence between physician and family, was mutual, and the 
kind feelings reciprocal. Wherever he was called, he felt himself at 
home ; and, in turn, was regarded almost as one of the family. 

And in those desperate struggles with acute disease, where all the 
resources within him were called forth, he felt as much joy in his 
own success, as the parent did in the recovery of his child. But 
when disease gained the mastery, and the patient succumbed under 
it, it was a way this people had, to take an early opportunity to 
manifest to him that they appreciated the exertion he had put forth, 
and that their confidence and friendship remained unimpaired. They 
knew that it was appointed unto man once to die, and that a last sick- 
ness must come to each one of them. 

The physical features of a country, the climate, and surrounding 
scenery, have much to do in forming national and individual char- 
acter. Effeminacy, slothfulness, ease, and luxury, are in a great 
degree characteristic of the people living between the tropics. 

And this is especially the case, in those delightful islands, and 
Eden-like gardens of the continents, where nature provides sponta- 
neously for the physical wants of man. 



148 

Ancient Woodbuiy, however, did not lie between the tropics ; there 
was no effeminacy here, save that which sat with the most winning 
gracefulness, upon the persons of our then young and matronly 
grandmothers. 

Neither was there ease here ; except that necessary rest and repose 
which alternated with diligent labor. And their greatest luxury was 
a good appetite, which enabled them to take that sustenance which 
sustained them in their unremitted employments. 

Ancient Woodbury was then studded, and canopied, with the pri- 
meval forest ; there was a dignity in its stateliness, and a solemn 
grandeur in th^ deep-toned music which accompanied the swaying 
movement of its waving branches. The streamlets, the rivulets, and 
the rivers, flowed then with fuller banks in their shaded channels, 
than they do now, exposed to the direct glare of the solar rays ; and 
their rushing, murmuring echoes, mingled in unison with the wood- 
land music. The Pomperaug flowed then, as now, through this 
pleasant valley ; and as they looked beyond it, on either hand, bold 
and rugged outlines were elevated to the view. Near at hand, were 
abrupt and perpendicular cliffs, and where the eye could extend 
beyond these, more distant summits overtopped the nearer hills. 

All this was in unison with the stout hearts that first made them- 
selves a home in this valley ; and it was among this people, and 
among these scenes, that the physician of Ancient Woodbury 
imbibed those elevated qualities that were so conspicuous in his 
career. He could not help but feel and thinh ; and those feelings 
and those thoughts took their mould and form from the magnitude of 
the objects which surrounded him. Among an inferior people, and 
tamer scenery, these physicians would have been inferior in their 
profession, and inferior as men ; for the thoughts and actions of 
every living man take color and form from their associations, and 
their surroundings. 

But both physician and patient filled here the full measure of their 
allotted time, and both have passed onward, on the eternal journey. 
And it would be to us to-day, a matter of interesting speculation, 
(having in view the signs of the times,) whether it is probable, that 
after another two hundred years have passed, the descendants of those 
who now people the territory of Ancient Woodbury, assembled here, 
perhaps, to celebrate, as we do to-day, will point to us, in our varied 
callings, and invoke an honor and a blessing on our memories ; or, 
whether they will go beyond where we go to-day, for merit to 
applaud, and deeds to commend. 



149 

Now, perhaps, some will inquire of me, "What kind of doctors 
were these physicians of Ancient Woodbury ? "Were they steam and 
Lobelia doctors ? "Were they Homoeopathic, infinitesimal doctors ? 
Were they " Ingin " doctors ? Were they Eclectic doctors ? Were 
they Root doctors ? Were they Stick doctors ? Were they Hygeian 
doctors? Were they GrafFenberg doctors? Were they Mineral 
doctors ? Were they "Apotacary " doctors ? Were they Cancer 
doctors? And did they know how to set bones? And when they 
cured any body, did not they always do it with Brandreth's pills ? 

I will endeavor to make answer to these interrogatories, by re- 
plying : 

That 2320 years ago, a man-child was born in the Island of Cos, 
whose name was Hippocrates. Eighteen of his ancestors, counting 
backward in an unbroken line, had been famous in curing disease. 
At the head of this line of eighteen, stood iEsculapius, his great 
ancestor, whom the ancients called the Father of Physic. On his 
mother's side, he was said to have been descended from Hercules. 
Occupying this advantageous position, and inheriting the hereditary 
talent of his family, he applied himself with great assiduity, to the 
observation and study of disease. His efforts were attended with 
the most marvelous results. Truth seems to have led him by the 
hand, Avhile he extorted from nature her hidden laws. Previous to 
his time, what was known of the art of healing, existed in a state of 
chaos. He brought order out of this confusion, and forever estab- 
lished system and method, and for more than six hundred years, the 
ancient civilized world were cured of their infirmities after the man- 
ner taught by Hippocrates. And so deeply sensible were they, of 
the benefit he had conferred upon mankind, that, after the manner of 
those times, they exalted him into a Deity, and erected to his honor 
and his worship, temples, and statues, and altars smoking with 
incense. And if ^sculapius was the father, Hippocrates was the 
great founder of the healing art. His was the great nucleus around 
which, each later century has contributed and garnered a rich har- 
vest of truth ; until now, at the present time, the science of medicine 
comprehends within its boundaries, a knowledge of the natural 
sciences, vmknown to any other calling in civilized life. On every 
part of this globe, wherever we meet with civilized man, whatever 
be his nation, or his language, it is by this same science of medicine, 
that the sick is treated for his disease. 

It was, then, to this school of medicine, that the physicians of 
Ancient Woodbury belonged. They were trained disciples in the 
18 



150 

school of Hippocrates. This will answer the question, " what sort of 
doctors they were ? " And you will permit me here to remark, that 
the divers other sorts of doctors are the mushrooms and the toadstools, 
growing upon the outside borders of the healing art. 

And now, may the mantle of the physicians of Ancient Woodbury 
descend upon the physicians of modern Woodbury, who, in practical 
attainment, I hope, if possible, may eclipse even their lustre. May 
the sympathy uniting them with the people among whom they dwell, 
be like that which existed in olden time. May Atwood, the Wood- 
bury physician of 1859, remember he is descended from Atwood the 
Woodbury physician of 1701. And may the Web* of attainment 
among them all, both practical and scientific, always Shove* forth 
their curing and healing instincts ; and may the usefulness and pro- 
fessional success of each, mark him as a Fairchild* and lineal de- 
scendant of their great ancestor, Hippocrates. 

"The Founders of Ancient Woodbury," by Hon. Wil- 
liam T. Minor, of Stamford, a grandson of Woodbuiy. 
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen : 

It has given me great pleasure that I have been able to accept the 
invitation of your committee and be pi-esent with you to join in these 
commemorative services. Since my arrival here last Saturday 
afternoon, from what I have seen and heard, I have been somewhat 
disposed to doubt my own identity. I am inclined to the opinion 
that I ought to have been " Deacon Minor." I rather think I ought 
to have been. I am certain that if I had been, and discharged faith- 
fully the duties appertaining to that oifice, I should have been a much 
better man than at present ; but as I am, it has long been a cherished 
wish of my heart, to visit the home of my ancestors ; to look at the 
spot which ga^e them birth, at the playgrounds of their childhood, at 
the old school-houses in which their education was commenced, and 
in many instances, finished, at the fields cultivated in their middle 
age, at the houses which sheltered their old age, at the churches 
where they ever worshipped, and at the grave-yards where now 
rest all of their mortal remains. Until now the active business of life 
has prevented the accomplishment of that wish. I only regret now, 
as I look upon your beautiful hills and valleys, and partake of your 
generous hospitality, that duty has been so long neglected. One of 
the most obvious reflections forcing itself upon the mind, as the eye 
passes over the immense concourse here assembled, is, what numbers 

* Names of the physicians at present residing and practicing in Woodbury. 



151 

of the descendants of ancient "Woodbury, have come together here, 
from all parts of our common country ; the merchant from his count- 
ing room, the mechanic from his work-shop, the farmer from his field, 
the professional man from his office, the authoress from her study, 
bringing with her poetical garlands all green and fresh — all leaving 
behind the active stirring scenes of life, some to clasp the hand of 
living friends, fondly welcoming them ; others, to drop a tear over the 
graves of departed ones — all to commemorate the virtues of the 
founders of Woodbury. 

Although I mingle with you but as a grandchild, of this good old 
town, yet I doubt not my appreciation of its growth and pi-osperity 
will be as true, and my relish for these exercises as keen and hearty, 
as of the childi-^n and immediate heirs ; from all of us a tribute of 
admiration and respect is equally due to the virtues, the true nobihty 
and the undying energy of its founders. 

We shall fail properly to appreciate the character of the founders 
of ancient Woodbury, unless we look at the cii'cumstances under 
which they were educated and prepared to become pioneers in the 
settlement of the new world. In the early part of the seventeenth 
century, the English throne was filled by James I. Under his reign 
religious persecution was carried to such an extent, that very many 
of the best citizens of England, to avoid stripes, imprisonment and 
even death, were driven into exile. At first their attention was turned 
to Holland, where they went in 1608, and remained until 1620, from 
whence they sailed, and in the latter part of that year landed " upon 
the stern and rock-bound coast " of Plymouth. James I. was suc- 
ceeded by his son, Charles I. Under the latter, the same persecu- 
tions which had characterized the reign of the former, were contin- 
tinued in a more aggravated form. Tyranny and oppression were 
used not only to destroy religious freedom but also to blot out from 
the English constitution, all the guarantees furnished by that instru- 
ment to the citizen for the enjoyment of personal liberty and the 
rights of property. For twelve years, from 1628 to 1640, the sove- 
reio'n will of Charles I., despotically exercised without a parliament, 
ruled the kingdom. In 1640, just about the time when that parlia- 
ment was assembling, between which and Charles I., civil and relig- 
ious liberty on one side, and despotism on the other, that mighty 
contest was waged, which terminated in the trial and execution of 
the monarch. Another band of exiles from England, fleeing from 
persecution, landed in Massachusetts and joining with some of the 
old Plymouth pilgrims, turned their faces westward and settled at 



152 

Stratford. Here all remained until religious dissensions springing 
up among them, the smaller number desirous of peace, in 1659, 
started out into the wilderness to look out new homes. This explor- 
ation brought them to Woodbury, and thus, in a. short time after- 
wards, was the settlement of ancient Woodbury effected. 

From what I know of their descendants of the present day, I am 
inclined to think, that in this respect, we differ essentially from our 
ancestors. I have no doubt, that although vexy peaceable when not 
quarreling, we should have remained at the old place, and fought it 
out, hoping in time to become the majority. 

Let us for a moment pause and contemplate the settlers as they 
took up their march inlt) the wilderness, yet untrodden by the foot 
of Christian man. They had assisted in the formation of one settle- 
ment, by the waters of Long Island Sound. Here -they had planted 
their Church, erected their school-houses, and built the rude log-hut 
for the protection of themselves and their little ones. A difference 
of opinion upon some matter of religious doctrine, was about sepa- 
rating them ; the small party conceiving that their mission had not 
been accomplished ; feeling that entire freedom of opinion in all mat- 
ters of conscience were the great aim of their lives ; wishing them- 
selves to enjoy that freedom unalloyed by the harsh and discordant 
jarrings of dissent and disagreement, and willing that all others 
should enjoy the same freedom unrestricted by any, save the com- 
mands of their great Creator. See them starting out to exjjlore the 
trackless forest ! They had been well fitted in the school of perse- 
cution, to become the pioneers of settlement ; all those traits of char- 
acter, both mental and physical, so necessary to endure the hard- 
ships of frontier life, had been largely developed by the circum- 
stances surrounding their childhood and middle life ; some of them 
fresh from the persecutions which were so rapidly driving their na- 
tive country into bloodshed, revolution and liberalism ; others, among 
the first settlers at Plymouth, altogether stalwart, stern, high minded, 
God fearing men and women ; they possessed a sturdy independence 
of character, which caused them ever to hate oppression, an undying 
energy which prompted them to enter upon the trackless forest, and 
a faith true and steadfast, that their Almighty Father would lead them 
by safe paths to their homes afar off in the wilderness. Follow them 
in their journey, until at last, about thirty miles from their homes 
on the top of Good Hill, the hardy band first catch a view of the 
beautiful valley now enriched by the taste and wealth of their de- 



153 

scendants. Then iii-st since creation's morn, did the primeval old 
forests resound with hymns of praise and thanksgiving to the true 
God. Never before had their quiet been disturbed, save by the howl- 
ing of wild beasts and the song of the ruthless savage, now fiercely 
exciting passions by their discordant war whoop, again chanting the 
death-song of some great brave who had gone to the hunting ground 
of the great unknown. Here then, our ancestors, after a careful ex- 
amination of the advantages of the country, settled. Their first 
care, after rudely providing for the safety and protection of their 
families, was to provide a place for the worship of God. Their first 
house was a temple not built with hands, whose floor was the bi'oad 
earth, whose canopy was heaven's high vault, whose altar and pulpit 
was Bethel rock. Here, until they were enabled to provide another, 
for Sunday after Sunday, they assembled for worship, carrying in 
their hearts a certain faith, that their great Father would protect 
them from all harm, and in their hands the trusty musket, lest per- 
chance, the cunning Indian might attack them. They were the men 
from whom Cromwell might at any time have recruited his famous 
regiment of Ironsides ; they ever trusted in God and kept their pow- 
der dry. Here upon principles drawn from the Great Creator, given 
by inspiration from God to man, did the founders of Woodbury estab- 
lish a government for themselves, making provision also for the edu- 
cation of their posterity. Neither could their own consciences accuse 
them of having violated the rights of others in making their location 
and settlement for whatever of right or title the primitive Indian might 
have possessed to the soil, every portion of that right and title was 
fairly and honorably extinguished. Oh that some of the same stern 
hatred of wrong and oppression, and love of right that characterized 
the early settlers of this good old town, might be infused into the 
men of the present day, and that the latter would learn and under- 
stand, that the great principles of right and justice of that great char- 
ter upon which was founded the government of our ancestors, can not 
be departed fi'om and violated any more by nations than individuals, 
with safety to themselves and their interests. Long since have the 
founders of Woodbury gone to their rest. One after another have they 
obeyed the summons brought by the celestial messenger from the 
heavenly city, and with them have gone too many of their stern traits 
of character. 

In the historical address given yesterday, your honored historian 
alludes to a certain social custom with reference to marrying and giv- 
ing in marriage in the instance of John Minor, Jr., the son of John 



154 

the settler, an ancestor of mine. Upon this point I can speak with 
confidence, from experience, and say that no such custom prevails 
among his descendants at the present day. If you are disposed to 
doubt, ask a certain lady who accompanied me here, and I have no 
doubt that she will inform you that an example established more than 
five thousand years ago by Jacob, who served fourteen years for Rachel, 
furnished a rule by which a service any where up to fourteen years 
was required before the hoped-for yes was spoken. But when asking 
the question, I beg you for all the world not to hint that I have allu- 
ded to the matter, lest another term of service should be required. 

Let us now look at some of the results of the principles so early 
established by them. 

I doubt if, when the first settlement was made at Woodbury, or at 
any of the first settlements of New England, the settlers contempla- 
ted a separation between themselves and the mother country, and that 
they were to be the founders, in the new world, of a mighty republi- 
can empire. Yet, when from the stand point of the present, we care- 
fully contemplate these men establishing government upon principles 
of religious toleration, and making provision for common education, 
exacting in the enforcement of right, stern in the punishment of vice 
and the putting do\\n of tyranny and oppression, laying the founda- 
tions broad and deep of civil and religious liberty. We feel that the 
American revolution and the establishment of this government, were 
but the culmination of their principles. Religious toleration, com- 
mon education, and as a necessary result of these, a free press, are 
the three main pillars of republicanism. All the acts of the pilgrim 
settlers of New England were tending to these results, a thousand 
causes were all along silently at work, so that they can hardly be 
traced, except in their grand result, a republican empire. If the spir- 
its of those good old men, who, one hundred years ago, stood on Good 
Hill, surveying the prospect before and about them, could be brought 
back to-day, and placed upon the exact spot where first they looked 
upon the valley of Woodbury ; if they could look upon these side 
hills, all luxuriant with vegetation, these valleys all dotted over with 
beautiful residences ; if they could hear the hum of industry from 
mountain top and valley, and above all, could they look upon this 
immense concourse of their descendants, prosperous, happy and con- 
tented ; if their view could be extended over the thirty-three States 
of this confederacy, teeming with a population everywhere busy and 
active, just now engaged in commemorating the birth-day of the gov- 
ernment whose protecting power guarantees to all its citizens life, Hb- 



155 

erty, and the pursuit of happiness, they would feel that their first 
prayer offered up in this then wilderness, had become prophecy, and 
that their great faith had been more than realized in its x'esults. 
Such were our ancestors, the founders of Woodbury ; they did well 
the work allotted for them to do, each in his own sphei'e. Erect for 
them the monumental stone ! Cherish well their memory in your 
hearts ; above all, guard with fidelity their principles which you have 
inherited, that on our government may be inscribed " Msto perpetua" 
A word more, and I have done. It is said that communities, as 
individuals, when they commence to exist, commence to die. With 
reference to this, I will close with offering the sentiment — 

Woodbury. — Its head-stones in 1659, may its foot-stones be in 
eternity. 

The whole audience then united in singing, with great enthusiasm, 
the following 

ODE. 

BY MRS. ANN S. STEPHENS. 

Tmie — " AmericM ." 

All hail our brothers, friends ! 
Each heart a welcome sends — 

Come neighbors, come ! 
Meet where your fathers dwelt ; 
Kneel where our mothers knelt ; 
Think how they toil'd and felt, 

In the old home. 

Two hundred years ago. 
Old men, with heads of snow. 

Bared to the breeze, 
'Mid a wild Indian band — 
By the red council brand — 
Grasped the proud chieftain's hand, 

Under the trees. 

Soon the log cabin stood. 
Deep in the hemlock wood. 

Hid by its green ; 
Sons rose to aid the sire, 
Red shone the " fallow fire," 
Up rose the rustic spire, 

Peaceful, serene. 



156 

As forest leaves are shed, 
All round a silent bed, 

Under the sod ; 
There foUow'd sire and son, 
Each when his race was run, 
And all his work was done, 

Going to God. 

If angels wander by. 

When hearts beat warm and high, 

Our sires are here ; 
Thankful that liberty 
Has set their children free — 
Smiling with sympathy, 

Gladness and cheer. 

Sons of that pilgrim few ! 
Souls that are firm and true ! 

Hail ye the day ! 
Our union is glorious. 
Our strength all victorious, 
God reigneth over us, 

Praise Him alway ! 

Speech. — "The Early Schools of Ancient Woodbury," by 
Thomas Meritt Thompson, A. M., of Woodbury. 

Mr. Thompson, on being called, appeared upon the edge of the 
stage, with a small piece of manuscript in his hand, which he rapidly 
tore up, saying, if he had a written speech, such sliould be its fate at 
the outset ; then, turning to the chair, he said : 

Mr. President : — Three or four days ago there appeared on this 
ground a tent, and arrangements for public speaking. At about the 
same time a programme was put into my hands, in which I found, to 
my dismay, that I was put down for a speech. I know this tent. It 
is the Yale College tent. Its associations seemed to seal my mouth, 
and impose on me silence. I have for years been a regular pilgrim 
to the shadows of this tent. As a devout worshiper at the shrine of 
my Alma Mater, under it I have long been accustomed to listen to 
words of wisdom as dispensed by wiser, better, older men, in whose 
presence T know only to be silent. I seem to see, near the pole in 
the center, the venerable and venerated form of President Day ; and 
as if to keep up the illusion, I see before me, on the stage, Profes- 
sors Knight and Dutton. Under these circumstances, sir, I came up 
here this afternoon, feeling hopelessly bankrupt for a speech. 



157 

But, Sir, our very recklessness sometimes serves us. It is so with 
me to-day. I think I know wliy I am wanted here. As my good 
luck will have it, you want just at this period, a man who can make 
a speech inside of ten minutes. [Applause.] I am, then, the man 
for the occasion. I am going to show you how the thing is done, so 
that at future centennials all may know how to make ten minutes' 
speeches. [Laughter and applause.] I will not, however, be too 
boastful. I am still, in more senses than one, overshadowed by this 
College tent. I observe that it is rent ; (pointing to a large rent in 
the canvass.) It is unhke my speech — in that you will find no holes, 
for it has never been stitched together. 

Mr. President ; I am not a native of Woodbury. I feel as if I 
was a trespasser ; yet I heartily thank the Committee for assigning 
me a part here. I am ingrafted stock, but I have taken some root, 
and once before, I believe, I took occasion to say, that on this very 
ground I had made a mark that nothing but an earthquake can ef- 
face. I am not a native ; but like the Irish gentleman who told the 
elder Adams he liked the country so well he was going to become a 
native ! So I, whatever may have been my previous hesitation, beg 
to say that I like the looks of the people assembled here to-day, and 
am going hereafter to be a native. Put me down for a native ! 
Henceforth, my energies, heart and soul, are with the Woodbury 
people. 

I remember the first Woodbury man I ever saw. I shall show 
him to you before I am through. You will not wonder why I chose 
Woodbury as a place of settlement when I tell you I took 1dm for a 
sample of the people. He is the man who honors and adorns our 
noble festival, our glorious centennial as its presiding officer. May 
I be permitted to say, if I have put forth any diligence that entitles 
me to stand here to-day in the presence of princes, yea, of kings and 
more than kings, I owe it to words of encouragement graciously 
spoken by him long years ago — " Beardsley, what a smart boy you 
have got ! " 

Mr. President, it is to me the central point of interest in the whole 
occasion, to meet you here. I am filled with emotion. The date of 
the time I allude to scares me. My memory is tenacious of dates, 
and I will give it. It was in the fall of 1828. Oh ! the record of 
thirty years on me and on you ! It has carried me along from the 
boy of scarce ten summers, to the meridian of life. It has carried 
you along from the dark hair and bloom of the man of thirty, to the 
twilight gray of life's evening. God grant that this evening mav be 
19 ^ ^ 



158 

as long, as calm, as happy, as your life has been exemplary, beauti- 
ful, and useful. [Amen ! from all the elderly gentlemen upon the 
stage-] 

But, sir, it was assigned as my part to respond to " The Early 
Schools of Ancient Woodbury." — Here, sir, at the outset, I take 
grounds of open rebellion against the Committee who imposed this 
part on me — I will not make a speech upon it. To speak of the 
schools of Ancient Woodbury, is to speak of the Puritan schools, a 
subject, I take it, needing no illustration from me. The Puritan 
schools have long since gained the acknowledgment of being the 
main human agency in the immense moral force exhibited by New 
England throughout her whole past history. Their influence has 
gone forth like streams in the desert, to make glad, and bless hu- 
manity. The noble men and women in all the higher walks of hu- 
manity, for long generations, have been a standing comment upon 
the early schools. Though I decline to go into this question at large, 
I will add, as a casual remark, that the early schools had vastly the 
advantage over those of our day. Then they had few books, and 
learned them %oell. The result was a thoughtful, sedate, prudent 
race of men. In our time, in the huge multitude of school-books, 
and in our eagerness to learn everything in the shortest time, we 
learn nothing well. The result is, our people are rattle-brained, 
empty-headed, inconsiderate. [Applause and laughter.] It is time 
for us to consider, whether as a people we are not wofully the losers, 
when for the material activity which characterizes our age, we so 
freely barter intellectual vigor, and moral force. 

But, Mr. President, if the Committee did show a Aveakness in 
appointing me to speak on the subject assigned me, they have more 
than compensated for it in the precautions they have taken to guard 
the audience from the infliction upon them by me, of a dull, prosy 
speech. This, they have most effectively done. To make all sure 
on this point, and to have the stage promptly cleared, they have 
placed behind me, (pointing to Hon. Chas. Chapman,) the sharpest 
man in Connecticut ; a warning I shall take good care to heed ; for 
as I came on the stage with a sort of crawling sensation, in view of 
the many reasons why I should not speak, so I already feel a pricking 
sensation, and hurry off the stage, lest I should be actually impaled! 
[Makes a hasty exit, amidst roars, shouts, and explosions of laughter.] 



159 



SPEECH OF HON. CHARLES CHAPMAN, OF HARTFOED, A GRANDSON 
OF WOODBURY. 

Mr. Chapman next responded to the sentiment, '' The Grand- 
children OF Ancient Woodbury," substantially as follows: 

Having been called to respond to the toast last announced, I ought 
perhaps to imitate the example of the politicians, and " define my 
position." The nearer we can approach to the common grandmother, 
on this occasion, the better pleased we are ; but, truth to tell, 1 am 
but a great-grandson of "Ancient Woodbury." The difference, how- 
ever, may be of minor importance, (if the Governor will excuse the 
use of the word in that sense,) inasmuch as all the grandchildren are 
great grandchildren to-day. 

There is in the human heart an instinctive love for the place of 
one's nativity. The youth who leaves the patei-nal roof to seek his 
fortune elsewhere, keeps the old homestead in view, toils on to ac- 
quire a competency, and when he has achieved the end for which he 
has labored many years, returns to the place of his birth, re-pur- 
chases the paternal acres, which have passed into other hands, and 
rears a more expensive edifice upon the spot where the old mansion 
stood. He adorns and beautifies the old farm, enriches the old fields, 
plants hedges where the old walls stood, and calls the place by a 
fancy name. 

Of a kindred character is the regard which one feels for the home 
of his more remote ancestors, the spot where the family took root in 
the then new world. This sentiment will show itself in various ways. 
It " crops out," (in the language of the miners, I mean the miners in 
metals,) from time to time, and on this occasion may be observed 
upon every hand. The remote descendants of the early settlers in 
this lovely valley are here in great numbers, and others residing in 
distant regions have sent their contributions to this festival in letters, 
relics, and touching sentiments. 

I have been commissioned by one of these descendants to present 
to the town of Woodbury some tokens of his regard, which I trust 
you will carefully preserve in the archives of the town. I will read 
to you my " Power of Attorney," (excuse the language of the pro- 
fession,) and when you hear that, and the name of the man from 
whom it comes, you will regi'et with me, that he can not be heard 
from this stand, upon an occasion so well suited to his tastes as this 
is. You will recognize in him the historian of Hartford, the author 



160 

of the life and times of the elder Governor Trumbull, who was the 
" Brother Jonathan " of Revolutionary memory, and the author of 
the life of Nathan Hale. An accomplished scholar, an industrious 
anticjuarian, and an orator of surpassing ability, he would have added 
jviiotlier charm to these festivities, 

Hartford, July 1st, 1859. 
Hon. Charles Chapman : 

Dear Sir — In compliance with your solicitation, I take pleasure 
in sending, through you, some memorials for the forthcoming celebra- 
tion of the settlement of Ancient Woodbury. They are, a piece of 
the wood of the far-famed Charter Oak, a view of this Monarch 
Tree as it looked in life, and a view of it as it looked in death, the 
morning after it fell. It was within the period of the birth of Wood- 
bury — but a few years only after the Stileses, and Curtises, and 
Skinners, and Judsons, and Minors, first settled there — that Sir 
Edmund Audros made his impotent attempt to seize and invalidate 
that noble Charter under whose folds Samuel Sherman and his asso- 
ciates obtained liberty from the General Court " to erect a plantation 
at Pomperauge " — and those, the early dwellers there — in common 
with the Colonists of Connecticut at large — rejoiced, then in the 
olden time, in that gnarled old Oak, which protected their Constitu- 
tion of government, and saved their liberties — liberties which have 
never since been overthrown — but which — consecrated by the sacri- 
fices and services of her sons in the councils and on the battle-fields 
of the Union — are now, thank Heaven, " imperishable and impreg- 
nable." 

Pleasant, therefore, I have thought it would be to the descendants 
of the first settlers of Woodbury, to receive the particular memorials 
which I commit to your charge. A thousand interesting historic 
associations cluster around them. They vividly renew the Past. 
They point to an heroic age for Connecticut. They should incite 
patriotic emotion. They should teach us all to love and honor our 
State as it has loved and honored us. 

I am myself, Sir, a descendant, in the fourth generation, of that 
worthy and distinguished divine, who, for nearly sixty years, minis- 
tered in Ancient Woodbury — the Rev. Anthony Stoddard — and I 
therefore feel a special gratification in the fact that the birth of this 
town is to be duly celebrated, and that you Sir — one of its grand- 
sons — are to mingle, actively, in the " higli festival." Few munici- 
palities in Connecticut can point to a more historic past than Wood- 



161 

bury. Its Indian, civil, ecclesiastical, and Revolutionary life — so 
admirably portrayed by its historian, Wm. Cothren, Esquire — place 
it among the first of our towns, and justify its good repute. That 
the celebration in which its citizens propose to indulge, may prove 
gratifying to themselves — may call up gladdening memox'ies — may 
glow with the spirit of patriotism — and augment their love for their 
venerable and happy home, is the hearty wish of, 

Yours truly, 

I. W. STUART. 

[Then Mr. Chapman exhibited the block from the Charter Oak — 
the picture of the tree as it appeared vrhen standing, and after it was 
prostrated by the storm.] 

There are others, and many others, who are neither inhabitants of 
Woodbury, nor descendants of those who were, who feel a deep 
interest in its history, and in these festivities, which mark the two 
hundredth anniversary of the exploration of this valley. Your 
industrious and talented fellow-citizen, William Cothren, Esq., has 
done much to create and foster this interest, by his carefully prepared 
work — a work that does honor to him and to you, and which is a 
most valuable contribution to the history of our State. 

Our own poetess, who is the poetess of Connecticut, joar excellence, 
has committed to my hands a little " gem of purest ray serene " from 
her casket of jewels, which she has authorized me to present to you 
on this occasion. She rejoices in your history, as you do in her well- 
earned fame. Like another eminent lady who went from among you 
in her youth, {Mrs. Ann S. Stephens,) and who has contributed to 
this Festival by her presence and by her pen, she has risen to her 
enviable position in the world of letters by her own merit. Long 
may she live to entertain us by her works, and teach us by her 
example. 

RETURN TO WOODBURY. 

Back to the hills by summer-breezes courted, 

Back to the uncient roof, the shaded plain, — 
Back to the play-ground where their fathers sported, 

The summon'd children turn their course again. 

And as the Fountain loves the tuneful voices 

Of her far streamlets, whereso'er they tend, 
And at the echo of their fame rejoices 

When nobly with the ocean-tide they blend, — 



162 

So this fair Region, — rich in vales and waters, 

Swells with maternal pride her flowery zone 
At this re-union of her sons and daughters, — 

And in their well-earned honor finds her own. 

L. H. S16OURNEY. 
Hartford, June 28th, 1859. 

There is another of the other sex, who is bound to you by no tie, 
but who has yielded to my request, and sent a sparkhng contribution 
to this intellectual banquet. He may be known to some of you as a 
regular contributor to the Knickerbocker, and as an occasional cor- 
respondent of some of the journals in this State. He would enjoy 
this scene, were he present, and for his sake and yours, I regret his 
absence. I suppose I ought to tell you who he is. He is one of my 
fellow-citizens, who deals in iron for gain, and courts the muses for 
fun — brimful of mirth and witli a wit that is keener than a Damas- 
cus blade. He is a living refutation of the truth of a paragraph in 
Hudibras, to the effect that 

"A man of quick and active wit 
For drudgery is more unfit, 
Compared to those of duller parts, 
Than running nags to draw in carts." 

Alike a man of business and a poet, success attends his efforts in both 
departments. 

Our friends, the Clergy, who have figured so largely and so suc- 
cessfully in these exercises, will pardon the spice of levity which may, 
by a careful examination, be detected in the verses which I am about 
to read. Yes, I know they will. I see it in their benevolent faces, 
and I remember, too, that the holidays of the Clergy are " few and 
far between," and I am persuaded that they enjoy this to the very 
top of their heart. 

But it is time I should tell you the name of my friend who has 
been so kind to us all. It is George H. Clark, and here is what he 
sends " greeting," as the Lawyers say : 

Geo. H. Clark's Woodbury Centennial Poem. 

Mysterious notes were abroad on the air — 
Significant hints of some weighty aflair ; 
Rumors increased till they I'ose to a shout. 
And now we all see what the stir was about. 



163 

Ye modest admirers, who've nothing to say, 
Make room — for spread eagle is coming this way. 
We stand, as it were, in our forefathers' shoes, 
And the time for tall talking's too precious to lose. 

Here frolicsome age shall grow young at the core, 
And youth shall strike hands with the hoys of threescore : 
Brim full of good feeling — Oh ! call it not folly — 
We've assembled qu purpose to laugh and be jolly. 

Ye attorneys — turn over a holiday leaf ; 
The facts are before you — and here is the brief ! 
So give us as much as you please of your jaw, 
But don't, if you love us, don't let it be law. 

Ye grave Boanerges — who thunder at sin. 
Let your features relax to a good natured grin : 
Pretermit theological chafing and chat. 
And talk about buttercups, birds, and all that. 

Forget, my friends, in this glorified hour. 

The Parson who vanquished that dreadful pow-wow-er ; 

But remember the Backus and Bellamy jokes, 

And up and be merry like rational folks. 

Sink the shop, ye trader in dry goods, to-day, — 
Just look at the prospect right over the way ! 
Don't the sight of the Pomperaug hills and green valleys 
Beat all your gay patterns on muslins and challies ? 

Ye medical men — whose dreams are of drugs. 
Omit for a while your professional shrugs : 
Give the go-by to boluses, blisters, and nux. 
And think of the dandelions, daisies, and ducks. 

Ye farmers — the nearest to Nature's own breast. 
Who draw from her stores what her children love best; 
Who irradiate towns with fresh butter and cheese. 
And tickle our palates with lamb and green peas ; 

We remember your haymows so fragrant in June ; 
Your pumpkins, as large and as round as the moon ; 
The green corn we roasted and ate on the sly. 
And the rye 'n 'ndian bread, and the — Oh ! let us cry ! 

It makes my mouth water to talk of such things, — 

The truth is, you farmers are Nature's own kings : 

And the queens ! — would you see the true test of their worth ? 

Just look at those boys ! aren't they proud of their birth ? 



164 

Of course, we'll remember, and speak of with pride, 
Seth Warner, and others who fought by his side : 
And grand Ethan Allen — the hero all over — 
Who conquered Fort Ti, in the name of Jehovah ! 

Historians assert that you 'd only one witch — 
But history makes an unfortunate hitch ; 
For witches still flourish — as witness these groups ! 
Though for halters and faggots you substitute hoops. 

Then a health to old Woodbury— merry or grave— 
And long in the land may her progeny wave, 
Nor forget where their excellent grandmothers sleep, 
While their own little babies are learning to creep. 

Now, my friends, I have disposed of all the props upon which I 
have relied to sustain me in the event, that my own thoughts should 
fail. I am left to my own resources, and begin to be apprehensive 
that you may be mirthfully inclined when I am serious, and serious- 
ly disposed whea I am gay. Topics were plenty, yesterday morning, 
but in the two days' speaking they have been, for the most part, used 
up. All the leading features in your history have been passed in 
review. Those men who have distinguished themselves most among 
you have also been already noticed. Of some of them too much 
could hardly be said. First and foremost among the intellectual 
giants in our State, was the Hon. Nathaniel Smith, who was born 
and lived, until his death, within the ancient limits of this town. He 
was indeed a great man. Without the advantages of early culture, 
he worked his way to the front rank of the legal profession, at a period 
when the ablest men, who have been known in the courts of this State, 
were in full practice. He stood among them primus inter pares. As 
an advocate he had great power, and his efforts were attended with 
marked success. At a later period he was an ornament to the Bencli, 
and has left a record upon the pages of our Reports of which the 
worthy President here, (his son) may well be proud. 

I must be indulged in saying a few words of another member of 
the profession who has recently passed away. He was one of the 
originators of this celebration, and one of the Committee to carry 
out the plan adopted a year ago. The vacant chair upon the stage 
draped in mourning, reminds us of him, who, had he lived, would 
have mingled in these festivities with a keen relish. He (the Hon. 
Charles B. Phelps,) was a man of genius, and a highly respectable 
member of the Bar. A ready debater, he was always equal to the 



165 

emergency of an occasion. He had a keen wit and overflowed with 
humor. 

"A merrier man« 
Within the hmit of becoming mirth, 
I never spent an hour's talk withal." 

He had moreover a kind heart, which displayed itself on all suit- 
able occasions, and long will he be remembered for his many good 
deeds. You will hardly " look upon his like again." 

You will pardon me for speaking a word of another gentleman of 
another profession, who has long since gone to his rest. I mean the 
Rev. John R. Marshall, who was the first Episcopal clergyman in this 
town. He was an eminently good man, and much beloved by those to 
whom he ministered in holy things. He planted a vine here which he 
carefully nurtured while he lived, and which flourishes now in full 
vigor. He closed his ministry here with the termination of his life, 
leaving behind him many blessed fruits, "Allured to brighter worlds 
and led the way." 

There are many others who have distinguished themselves here in 
the different professions, and many who have gone from among you, and 
distinguished themselves elsewhere, who deserve to be mentioned on 
this occasion did time permit. There have been too, very many 
equally worthy and estimable men, who never attained to any par- 
ticular prominence in the eye of the world, men who pursued the 
noiseless tenor of their way, but who have done their share in build- 
ing up your institutions, and in making this valley bud and blossom. 
They were the fathers and grandfathers of many whom I see before 
me, and this gathering attests the interest which their posterity 
feel in their memory. While the blood of some of them courses in 
the veins of their decendants, their names have become extinct among 
you. This is true of the names of my maternal grandfather and 
grandmother, (Perry and Beers,) names once well and favorably 
known here. One of the latter name {Hon. S. P. Beers,) has ad- 
dressed you to-day, but he has resided elsewhere for more than half 
a century. From his account of himself, nearly seventy years ago 
he had the ambition to sit cross-legged upon a tailor's bench, but 
because perhaps (in the language of the old song,) " the money came 
slowly in," he concluded to pursue the legal profession, supf)osed by 
some to be more pi'oductive. It would seem from his statement that 
he is now an old man, which from his full head of brown hair (which 
I envy,) and his youthful appearance we should all doubt, had we 
not confidence in his veracity, and did we not know that he had been 
20 



166 

the popular commissioner of the School Fund since the earliest rec- 
ollection of the "oldest inhabitant." The sons of many have emi- 
grated to other portions of th^ country, and thus have their names 
become extinct here. The daughters, although eminently worthy o' 
trust in all other particulars, cannot be relied upon to bear up a name. 
In this particular, however honest they may be, they resemble the 
most practiced rogues. They are with now and then a solitary (not 
to say melancholy exception,) in search of an alias, and are quite 
sure to find and adopt it. I have always wondered why they mark 
their linen with their maiden names. Nearly two days have been 
spent here in glorifying our grandfathers. But there has been, as 
there now is, a "better half" of humanity, of whom I have heard 
nothing said. I marvel that such an omission could have occurred 
in such a presence. A " mutual admii-ation society," composed ex- 
clusively of men, I confess is not to my taste. We have heard much 
about great men — good men — valiant men — self-taught men, and 
about " all sorts and conditions of men." It has been from the be- 
ginning — men — men — men ; nothing but men. Had they no mothers — 
no wives ? Men have indeed fought the battles of the country ; felled 
the forest trees ; tilled the earth, and toiled in the different professions 
and trades. But woman has toiled too amid dangers which appalled 
the stoutest hearts. She has braved suffering in its countless forms, 
such as woman only knows, and submitted to privations with a patient 
meekness of which woman is alone capable. In the early settlement 
of the country, the mother nursed and reared her own children ; was 
mistress and servant ; carded the wool ; spun it into yarn, and made 
it into cloth. She was her husband's and boy's tailor, her own and 
her daughter's milliner and mantua-maker ; and in a word, discharged 
every domestic duty unaided. It is not strange that such women 
should have reared such sons as we have been boasting about here 
for two days. 

Let us do fitting honors on this occasion to the female character. 
Every man who has risen to distinction in any of the walks of life, 
is indebted to his mother for those traits of genius which he inherited 
from her, and those habits of thinking and of action, which are the 
result of her early teaching. 

" The mother, in her office, holds the key 
Of the soul : and she it is who stamps the coin 
Of character, and makes the being who would be a savage, 
But for her gentle cares, a Christian man — " 

How dear to us is the sacred name of mother ! She it was whose 



167 

loving care and ceaseless vigilance protected and nurtured us in help- 
less infancy. We learned from her those earliest lessons which are 
most deeply impressed upon our memories, and which time does not 
obliterate. Our recollections of a mother's love, a mother's care, a 
mother's patience, and a mother's forgiveness of our faults, freshen 
and become* more and more tender, as our shadow lengthens upon the 
dial. It is to her that we owe all that we are and all we hope to be. 

T might speak of woman in the relation of wife, and of the love, 
respect, and kindness which she deserves as such. She is sought 
and won, forsakes father and mother, and cleaves unto the husband. 
With an amazing confidence, she entrusts her happiness, her all, in 
his hands. She shares his sorrows, participates in his joys, labors 
for his advancement, and occupies the position in life in which his 
success or misfortune may place her. If we loved her Avhen seeking 
an alliance, how much more tenderly should we feel toward her, 
when she has committed herself to our fostering care, and has be- 
come the mother of our children. 

There is still another relation in which 1 might speak of woman. 
I mean as daughters. None but fathers know aught of the emotions 
of a father's heart toward them. With what solicitude do we watch 
their growth and development. With what intense interest do we 
gaze upon their budding beauty, and varied accomplishments. With 
Avhat tender affection do we cling to them, and how they wind them- 
selves about our hearts. And then, endeared to us as they are, and 
in the flush and beauty of their youth, we are called to relinquish 
them into other hands, as their mothers were relinquished to us. 
Then we know for the first time, what the yielding to our request 
cost some few years ago. 

Were there time, and were there not some Governors, Lawyers, 
Doctors, and Clergymen yet to speak, and whom you are anxious to 
hear, I should be pleased to enlarge upon this fair topic ; but even 
at the hazard of standing between you and those gentlemen for an 
unreasonable time, I could not say less- When I look upon this 
immense audience, and especially upon this bed of flowers before me, 
in which I see the spring violet, the summer rose, and the dahlia of 
autumn, all in bloom at the same time, as if the three seasons had 
been consolidated, I wish we had another day in which we could say 
what we feel and think. 

Since my earliest recollection, great changes have been wrought in 
this valley. The stately elms and maples that line the way south- 
ward to the western limit of the village of Southbury, Avere in their 



168 

infancy fifty years ago ; but now they spread their giant arms in 
every direction, and are models of strength and beauty. This was 
then a sparsely settled village; but since that period it has undergone 
such alterations as to change its appearance altogether. Then it was 
purely an agricultural town ; but now it derives its prosperity in a 
degree from the successful prosecution of some of the mecbanic arts. 

The men of that day have been for the most part gathered to their 
fathers ; but I recognize in some of those here, the family likeness, 
and hear on every hand the family names. The names of Stiles, 
Curtis, Hinman, Sherman, Judson, Atwood, Strong, and many others, 
are still preserved, and last, but not least, you have " saved your 
Bacon." We had yesterday afternoon a taste of the attic salt which 
gives it value. 

In conclusion, let me congratulate the originators of this celebra- 
tion, and all who have been interested in it, upon the singularly for- 
tunate circumstances attendant upon this Festival. The heavens 
have smiled upon us — no accident has occurred to mar the festivities 
of the occasion — and the re-union has been one of unmixed enjoy- 
ment. We can be present but upon one such occasion in a life-time. 
Here we have renewed old friendships, and I trust have formed new 
ones of an enduring character. Many a history will date from this 
occasion, for it would not be strange if some, who have met here for 
the first time, will pursue life's journey hand in hand — will " climb 
life's hill together," and when the journey is concluded, will " sleep 
together at the foot " the sleep of death. The youth of both sexes, 
here present, will excuse this public allusion to a delicate subject, 
which may have found a place in their private thoughts. 

Now, my friends, I must take my leave of you. There is a small 
army of orators behind me, who are waiting for turns, as the first 
settlers waited at the old mill ; and there are many here whose 
thoughts, radiant with beauty as they are, will not find vent in words. 
We part with pleasant recollections of this memorable interview, 
which we shall cherish while we live. 

SPEECH OF HON. HENRY DUTTON. 

Hon. Henry Dutton, of New Haven, a native of Watertown, 
within the limits of the Woodbury deed of 1659, responded to the 
sentiment, " The Cousins of Ancient Woodbury." 

Mr. President : — An incident has occurred since I have been on 
this platform, which has almost induced me to withdraw. The dis- 



169 

tinguished gentleman from Litchfield related an anecdote, which 
seemed to reflect upon the honored practice of " cousining." Now 
as I am here only under that long established custom, and have no 
right to be heard, except as a remote cousin of Woodbury, had I not 
felt the utmost confidence in the friendship of that gentleman, I 
should have been disposed to take offence. I have been somewhat 
reassured, however, by the course taken by the eloquent gentleman 
who preceded rae. When that gentleman, 

"Whose head is silvered o'er with age," 

but whose 

" Long experience has [not] made him sage," 

and whom I have known for many years as a grandfather, comes 
here and palms himself off as a great-grandchild of Woodbury, I 
trust I shall be excused if I claim the relationship of only fourth 
cousin. 

Much credit, Mr. President, has been justly awarded to Ancient 
Woodbury, for what was done by her sons in securing our independ- 
ence. But it ought to be remembered that the territory embraced 
in the deed of 1659, not included within the town, lying along its 
eastern, northern, and western borders, and now embracing the 
wooded hills and fertile valleys of Middlebury, Watertown, and 
portions of Litchfield and other towns, furnished their full quota of 
men and money in sustaining the glorious cause. I regard myself, 
Mr. President, as peculiarly fortunate, in being able, on the present 
occasion, to trace my origin to a point west of the Naugatuck — in 
being able to give testimony on the subject. One of my earliest 
recollections is of a near neighbor, who went by the name of " Lef- 
tenant Ferris," who exhibited the most complete character of a man, 
that I ever witnessed. He had served in the army during nearly 
the whole period of the Revolution, and had lost his property, his 
limbs, and his health, in the cause. He had aided in securing to his 
country the blessings of freedom, but what to him, in poverty and 
distress, was the independence of his country ? On an occasion like 
this, I trust a man has a right to speak of the deeds of his own an- 
cestors. My father, though a mere stripling, Avas for a short time in 
the army, and witnessed the scene, when a tent in New York was 
filled with the corpses of soldiers killed by a single stroke of light- 
ning, in the most fearful thunder storm ever known in this country. 



170 

He was also at the battle of Long Island, and used to relate to me 
with thrilling interest, the scenes which he had witnessed. 

He also gave me the names of one, and another, and another, of 
his neighbors who had gone out at the call of their country, never 
to return. 

James Morris, of Litchfield, South Farms, was a gentleman to 
whom full justice never has been awarded. He was a scholar, as 
well as a soldier. T have it from high authority, that he served in 
the army during a large portion of the war ; that he was honored by 
the friendship of Washington, and that he was selected by him to 
lead one of the columns which scaled the walls at the memorable 
siege of Yorktown. 

I regret that the request that I received to make some remarks 
on this occasion, were so late that I am unable to speak of others from 
the same region, whose merits demand a passing notice. But there 
was a native of Watertown who contributed as much aid to the cause 
by his pen, as others did by the sword. I refer to John Trumbull, 
afterward a Judge of the Superior Court. As the author of Mc- 
Fino-al, he i-anks among the first poets which this country has pro- 
duced. 

That poem was written at the request of some of the friends of 
Independence, to cast ridicule upon the tories ; and it is said that 
many of them feared the pointed shafts of his wit more than they 
did the bullets of other whigs. 

Among the instances handed down by tradition of his readiness at 
repartee, it is said that he was a Tutor in Yale College at the same 
time with the late celebrated Dr. Dwight. The class of which he 
had charge had presented to the worthy Tutor a ring, with the motto, 
" meruit plus," — He deserves more. The younger members of the 
faculty then, as in later years, frequently visited the ladies of New 
Haven. Several of them on one occasion gathered round Tutor 
Dwight, who was a favorite, admiring the ring, and referred to Tutor 
Trumbull for an interpretation. He examined it, and replied : The 
motto says, " he deserves more." He deserves yoking as well as 
ringing." 

Another instance of a ready but severe retort upon an antagonist, 
has sometimes been ascribed to him, and sometimes to another dis- 
tinguished wit. It was a favorite doctrine of the schoolmen, as our 
reverend friends will bear Avitness, that the will is always governed 
by the strongest motive ; and that wei-e motives equally strong pre- 
sented, the will would remain quiescent. This was illustrated by 
supposing an ass was stationed between two bundles of hay — those 



171 

acute metaphysicians insisted that the poor animal would starve to 
death before he would touch either of them. It happened that Tutor 
Trumbull was walking between two other Tutors, till they came to a 
crossing, when one of his friends requested him to go one way, and 
the other, another way. He hesitated, and acknowledged himself in 
a quandary, for he said he had an equal regard for both. One of 
them suggested that he was like the ass between two bundles of hay. 
" No," said he, " I am like a bundle of hay between two asses." 

The father of John Trumbull, who was Pastor of the Congrega- 
tional Society in Watertown for many years, was a sample" of a rare 
class of clergymen, who would make themselves rich on a salary of 
one hundred pounds, or a little over three hundred dollars a year. I 
have heard from his cotemporaries, many anecdotes regarding him. 
He was a good farmer, as well as preacher, and was particularly a 
good judge of horse-flesh. He gave full liberty to his parishioners 
to cheat him if they could in the sale or exchange of horses. He 
was, though not large, very athletic. 

The Pastor of the Church in "Waterbury at the time was Mr. 
Leavenworth. Wrestling was much more fashionable then than it is 
now, and challenges were given by the wrestlers of one town to those 
of another. In a number of trials, the champion of the ring of 
Watertown had been worsted by those in Waterbury. Mr. Trum- 
bull sympathized with his fellow townsmen in their disgrace, and 
contrived to appear incog, at the next wrestling match. The Water- 
bury men at first were as usual victorious, when the stranger stepped 
into the ring, and prostrated them, as fast as they closed in Avith him. 

Soon afterward, Mr. Leavenworth, having heard of the defeat of 
his townsmen, and how it was accomplished, met Mr. Trumbull, and 
being somewhat piqued, called him to account for his unministerial 
conduct. Mr. Trumbull excused himself, by saying that he expected 
to exchange with his brother Leavenworth soon, and thought it 
advisable to give his parishioners a foretaste of the thrashing which 
they would get when he did. 

The spirit, Mr. President, which achieved our independence, was 
not confined to any local limits, but fraternized with the whole human 
race. It was not confined even to this country, but crossed the 
Atlantic ; and the present struggle for freedom in Italy may be 
traced to our forefathers. It is not easy to estimate the ultimate 
effect of the examples of such men as Allen and Warner. Indeed, 
it has struck me that there is a striking analogy between the events 
in Italy, and those of our own Revolution, with this difference — that 



172 

they are compressed within much narrower limits of time there. 
The enterprise and audacity of Garibaldi, remind us strongly of 
your own Ethan Allen. The battles of Montebello, Casteggio and 
Magenta, are a counterpart to those of Bunker Hill, Saratoga and 
Yorktown. May we not hope that the parallel will still be con- 
tinued. 

There has not been a period for many years, Mr. President, when 
it more behooved the people of this Union, to recall the deeds, and 
cultivate the virtues of their forefathers, than the present time. We 
have reason to hope, indeed, that when Louis Napoleon . has driven 
the Austrians out of Italy, as I pray heaven he may, he will, by 
giving to the Italians the choice of a form of government, place 
himself on a higher pinnacle of fame, than any monarch who has 
preceded him. 

But we have no assurance that such will be the result. Success 
may create the love of power, and he may find the Eastern world 
too small for his ambition. An earthquake in Italy is often felt in 
America. When the passions of eighty millions of people are excited, 
and hundreds of thousands borne into collision, it will not be strange 
if the concussion should be felt on this side the Atlantic. Let us, 
then, invoke the spirit of '76, and be prepared to meet every in- 
vader. 

Samuel Minor, Esq., of Sandusky, Ohio, a native of Woodbui-y, 
then spoke to the sentiment, " The Emigrants from Ancient 
WooDBURT," as follows : " — 

Mr. President : Under a brief notice, I am desired to make a 
few remarks in behalf of the Emigrants from Ancient Woodbury, 
those who have left these hills and valleys for distant abodes, and 
returned to unite in this festive occasion. In their names, we tender 
most cordial thanks, for the invitation we have received, to visit our 
paternal homes — to gather again around the domestic hearthstones 
and to sit again in the old arm chairs of our ancestors. 

Personally, this occasion has a special interest, for around the resi- 
dence near by, and the grounds on which we are assembled, are 
gathered all the associations of a New England Home. Here were 
spent my childhood and youth, and here were received these instruc- 
tions prized higher than any other legacy earthly parents could be- 
stow. The rocks and trees and hills are as familiar as household 
words. When I call to mind those who have fallen asleep, and look 
upon those who live ; when recollection runs over the reminiscences 



173 

of the past, and then turn to the present, the soul is filled with emo- 
tions which can not be uttered, and I can only exclaim in reference 
to this loved spot, as can each returning wanderer as to his own : 

' Home, home, sweet, sweet home. 
There's no place like our old firesides. 
There's no place like our good old homes.' 

Those of us who have removed from among you, observe with pecu- 
liar interest one feature of this celebration, and that is, the presence 
of so many of advanced and maturing years, so many bright links 
connecting the past to the present, so many Elishas upon whom have 
fallen the mantles of the Elijahs that have gone before ; and when I 
speak for myself, I speak for all who reside in the newer States, and 
assure you, there is nothing we there so much miss as the presence 
of good old men. Happy is that community which is blessed by 
many of them. It is for you my aged Fathers, to remember, that, as 
physical strength diminishes, the fruits of a worthy character are 
ripening, and the fragrance of useful lives is being shed abroad over 
the community. Your influence, like gravity, is silent but powerful. 
To you we look with confidence and respect. We feel that you have 
imbibed the spirit and principles of our Puritan ancestors, and are 
manifesting these principles in your lives, and that you have thus 
become, not only true sons of the past, but fathers of the future. 
While we shall endeavor to imitate your example, we rejoice to as- 
sure you, that these silver crowns, these crowns of honor which time 
is placing on the brow, will be succeeded, in eternity, by diadems of 
glory in that day when the Lord cometh to make up his jewels. 

And now as to those of us upon whom is coming the burden and 
heat of the day. It is for us to preserve the casket committed to our 
care, and adhere faithfully to the principles thus transmitted. In this 
manner, and in this only, shall we find true, that beautiful motto of 
this State, " Qui Transtulit Sustinet," that he who hath established 
will sustain. Why is it that the roots of the tree of Liberty have 
taken deeper and stronger hold, and its branches flourished more vig 
orously amid these comparatively barren rocks of New England, 
than in the beautiful savannas of the South, yea, than in the rich 
prairies of the West? It is because that tree was planted by hands 
which knew no weariness in a good cause, and was watered by the 
blood and tears of holy men and holy women. 

Travelers and scientific men inform us, that the time was, when, 
in the distant regions of the North, vegetation clothed the hills and 
21 



174 

valleys, and animal life existed with no want inisatisfied ; but, from 
causes not yet fully understood, the direct rays of the sun were with- 
drawn, and where all was beauty, desolation reigned. So is it in the 
moral Avorld. If holy influences from above no longer produce their 
designed effect, desolation there reigns, and frozen are the genial 
currents of the soul. 

There is a law in the falling leaf and in the springing flower. There 
is a law in the solid mountain, and a law in the silent spaces amid the 
stars, and while these and all other physical laws are followed, the 
course of nature runs smoothly on. Equally true is it, that there is 
a law in every department of human society enstamped upon it by 
him who rules above, and it can not be broken with impunity in the 
one case more than in the other. 

Many here present, while school boys, built with me, by yonder 
school-house, our ibrts and houses and castles of snow in winter time, 
thinking that nothing would destroy them, but found, as summer's 
sun approached, they slowly but surely disappeared. So now, that 
we have become men, we shall tind, no matter what castles we may 
build or institutions establish, unless they are in accordance with the 
great higher law, by power from above, they will be melted, melted, 
melted away. 

But time is passing. Again, we thank you for this occasion ; we 
thank you for the hospitality and kindness received, and for the able 
addresses we have heard. We thank you for the influence your 
chai-acter still exerts, and that, as we wander over the earth, we are 
enabled to point with pride to New England, with pride to Connecti- 
cut, with pride to Woodbury. 

Permit me, in behalf of my adopted, and also my native home, 
without disparagement to others, to close with this sentiment : 

Ohio — Noblest of the Western States. 

Connecticut — Parent of the best paxt of Ohio. 

Dr. Leman Galpin, of Milan, Ohio, a native of Woodbury, then 
made the following remarks : 

Mr. President : — 1 have been requested to say something on 
this interesting occasion. Placed, so unexpectedly, in the condition 
of the chap who, when called on for a speech, arose and gravely said 
that it was exceedingly embarrassing for him to attempt to say any- 
thing just then and there, inasmuch as he was wholly unprepared — at 
the same time pulling from his pocket a manusci'ipt speech "got up" 



175 

expressly f'oi- that particular juncture, I trust I shall have that indul- 
gence and sympathy which, in all probability, was accorded to him : 
protesting, meanwhile, that my embarrassment and want of prepara- 
tion are very much, if not exactly, like his. 

To quiet any apprehensions that may arise in your minds, however, 
let me assure you that you are not about to suiFer the infliction of a 
speech. It is a crime of which, hitherto, I never was guilty. Yet, 
the occasion is such as seemingly to demand oi' those, who were reared 
in this locality, some expression of their attachment to the place that 
gave them birth. 

After an absence of nearly a quarter of a century, I return from 
Ohio, the State of my adoption, to meet with you on this joyous, and 
may 1 not say momentous, occasion. Others like myself, who had 
wandered from this "our own dear native town," are present from 
the Buckeye State to participate in this, the Second Centennial Cele- 
bration of Woodbury. 

Many, no doubt, if indeed not a majority of the different States of 
the Union, are represented here to-day. For where have not Yan- 
kees gone — and Connecticut Yankees, in particular? Is it wholly 
conjectural to suppose that there is not, probably, a State or Territory 
in our whole country, in. which a live, Connecticut Yankee, is not to 
be found ? And is it any more preposterous or absurd, or one that 
will more severely tax our credulity, to imagine that there is a coun- 
try on the face of the globe inhabited by civilized men, or those liv- 
ing in a slate of semi-civilization, even, where the sons of Connecti- 
cut cannot be found ? I repeat the inquiry — Is there a land or nation 
under heaven where the representatives of our State — if not of our 
own native Town, indeed, are not to be found ? If so, where ?■ And 
" echo " answers. Where ? I venture the affirmation — nowhere — un- 
less it is where wooden nutmegs are at a discount, or money can't be 
made. 

Sir, I presume I utter a sentiment that will meet with a cordial 
response from all who are similarly situated with myself, when I say 
" absent, but not forgotten." 

No ! memory cherishes, and loves to dwell upon the scenes and 
incidents of childhood. Of every tree and moss-grown rock, of every 
hill-side and valley, in short, of every locality where we were accus- 
tomed to indulge in our childish sports may we predicate an attach- 
ment, proportioned to the frequency with which we visited them, and 
the number of years we spent there. 

Nothing can make a stronger, or a more permanent impression 



176 

upon tlie mind and heart than the events that occurred in the differ- 
ent localities, in which we respectively resided. We may atHrm the 
same, also, of the instructions, the amusements, and even the follies 
and foibles of our youthful days. Some of these acts we would fain 
remember, and we love to ponder upon them. 

But alas ! Of how large a proportion of our acts, in the aggre- 
gate, we may say — would that we could draw the veil of oblivion 
over them, and forever blot them from the memory. But, impossible ! 
They are written upon the tablet of the heart, and the lines are inef- 
faceable. 

This gathering of the sons and daughters of Ancient "Woodbury, 
is perfectly demonstrative of the sentiment I am about to offer. 

Some of you, it is true, occupy patrimonial estates — cultivating the 
same farms that your fathers tilled, and residing, perchance, in the 
same dwellings in ^vhich they lived and died. Attached to the domain 
by more than ordinary ties, no other spot is to you so dear. Your 
dearest associations cluster around, and indeed, center in the old home- 
stead. Familiar with every nook and corner from very childhood, a 
value attaches to the ancestral home that dollars and cents cannot cor- 
rectly represent. Should dire necessity — events beyond your control 
compel you to leave it, how oft would the imagination revert to that 
place, than which no other is so dear. 

Circumstances seemed to necessitate the migration of some of us, 
though we left somewhat reluctantly. " Very much land remained 
to be possessed." 

Like bees, when the old hive is full, neio swarms must seek new 
homes. So it was with us. Leaving with the most kindly feelings, 
and hence with many regrets, our predilections and affinities for the 
old home have not been dissevered or alienated. Although absent 
many years, yet there has never been, by any means, a total trans- 
ference or an essential diminution of the strength of our attachment. 
Whatever may have been the social position or pecuniary situation 
of our parents — whether we were born in a palace or a cot — whether 
every thing that wealth and influence could command were laid under 
contribution to augment our comfort and happiness, or whether pov- 
erty with all its stern imperious necessities was our lot — in either 
case, we are prepared to endorse and adopt what Daniel Webster 
said, when he gave utterance to the sentiment, expressed so tersely 
and beautifully in the following language: "It is only shallow-minded 
pretenders who make either distinguished origin a matter of personal 
merit, or obscure origin a matter of personal reproach. A man 



177 

who is not ashamed of himself need not be ashamed of his early con- 
dition. It did happen to me to be born in a log cabin, raised among 
the snow-drifts of New Hampshire, at a period so early that when 
the smoke first rose from its rude chimney, and curled over the frozen 
hills, there was no similar evidence of a white man's habitation be- 
tween it and the settlements on the rivers of Canada. Its remains 
still exist ; I make it an annual visit ; I carry my children to it, and 
teach them the hardships endured by the generations before them. I 
love to dwell on the tender recollections, the kindred ties, the early 
affections, and the narrations and incidents which mingle with all I 
know of this primitive family abode. I weep to think that none of 
those who inhabited it are now among the living, and if ever I fail in 
affectionate veneration for him who raised it and defended it against 
savage violence and destruction, cherished all domestic comfoi'ts be- 
neath its roof, and through the fire and blood of seven years' revolu- 
tionary war, shrunk from no toil, no sacrifice, to serve his country, 
and to raise his children to a condition better than his own, may my 
name and the name of my posterity be blotted from the memory of 
mankind." Noble sentiments — worthy of being written in letters of 
gold. 

But it is an interesting inquiry, and one that draws largely upon 
the imagination and excites, somewhat, our emotional nature ; what 
will be the feelings, and who the participants in the Third Centennial 
Celebration ? Will a single one present here to-day, be there ? Not 
one ! We shall all have gone to our rewards. When gone, will our 
names be remembered, and our memories be cherished ? Or shall we 
be forgotten and no record or tradition, even, exist to tell that we 
have lived — and that we have Uved here ? Let the history of that 
day, as it only can, decide. But thanks to Ancient Woodbury's His- 
torian, Wm. Cothren, Esq., the names of our fathers as well as of 
many of us will be perpetuated and transmitted to generations yet 
unborn. 

Before closing, Sir, I wish to say, briefly, that many with whom 
we were formerly acquainted, and with whom we were pleasantly and 
somewhat intimately associated either in the duties or business trans- 
tions of life, " have fallen asleep." 

While we cherish and revere their memories, still our respect and 
aflSJiation for the succeeding generation is neither abated nor abatable. 
And we are ready to say of the State in general, and of Woodbury 
in particular — Connecticut forever. 

I am now prepared to offer the following sentiment : 



178 

The Town in which we were born. — As soon "can a woman 
forget her sucking child," as a man can forget the place of his nativity. 

Gen. William Williams, of Norwich, Conn., Chairman of the 
Committee of Arrangements for the Centennial Celebration to be 
held at Norwich, on the 7th and 8th of September next, being 
introduced by the President, spoke nearly as follows : 

Mr. President: — At this late hour, without consuming the time 
in apologies, I come to respond to your call. 

Permit me. Sir, to supply an omission in the address of the Hon. 
gentleman from Hartford, who so ably and appropriately addressed 
the audience, in announcing that the Poetess of Connecticut, (Mrs. 
Sigourney,) of whom_ he made honorable mention, is a native of 
Norwich — to them a matter of reciprocal pride. 

Yesterday, Sir, I beheld for the first time your beautiful Alpine 
valley. On my arrival, hearing a person inquire for the Rev. Mr. 
Williams, and understanding his residence to be quite near, the 
thought struck me, he must be a cousin, and that on a Centennial 
Celebration, it was allowable and proper to look them up. I soon 
made myself known to him, and my reception satisfied me that 
he belonged to the old stock ; and on inquiry, we find that for two 
generations, in our country, we had a common ancestry, and that in 
the third generation, whei'e it branched off, the name of his ancestor 
has descended through the successive generations, in the line to 
which I belong, and that I bear his name. The Rev. Wm^ 
Williams died at Hatfield, in 1741, in the 76th year of his age, and 
56th of his ministry. This gentleman married the daughter of the 
Rev. Solomon Stoddard, of Northampton, and was consequently 
brother-in-law to the Rev. Anthony Stoddard, the pastor here of 
revered memory. 

Mr. President, we are all the children of good old Connecticut, 
and whether we live on this side of the river, or the other, we are 
one in our love of her institutions. In my native County of New 
London, repose for six and for seven generations, the ashes of my 
paternal and maternal ancestors. A tree which has taken such root, 
may well send out its branches over the river, and thus permit us to 
commune on this occasion. There is another, and a yet tenderer 
sympathy, that made me wish to see your rural town. When I read, 
the last winter, in our local newspaper, the interesting obituary of 
one who had honored this the place of her birth, as well as her dis- 
tant home, from whence her spirit went up to heaven, I wished to 



179 

see Woodbury, and to say, Sir, that I too know the stricken heart of 
a bereaved father, for I mourn the death of my children. 

There is still another tie why I have joined in your bi-centennial 
celebration. "We have in prospect a like occasion in Norwich, on 
the 7th and 8th days of September, where, Sir, we shall be happy to 
welcome you with your honorable associates. 

Permit me, Sii', in conclusion, to say, honor to Woodbury, and her 
successful celebration. 

Rev. Robert G. Williams then read to the audience the following 
PARTING LAY. 

BY MISS HORTENSIA M. THOMAS, OF WOODBUKT. 

Fair " Dwelling in the Wood ! " thy ample halls 
To-day have opened wide their folded doors 
To greet thy children, — their ancestral walls 
Shall echo back the songs each glad heart pours. 
To-day, no home outvies it, far or near ; 
Where is the land would claim to be thy peer ? 

Thy roof is purest azure, and thy walls 

The wooded slopes that bound these pleasant vales ; 

These groves, with rocks enclosed, thy happy halls ; 

God's benison is on thy hills and dales. 

Two centuries since, the hardy pioneer 

Found, and rejoiced to find, such dwelling here. 

Thousands of dwellings now, that, since those days. 
Have reared their walls beneath the one great dome. 
Send forth their sons and daughters, and the rays 
Of Freedom's sun gild every happy home. 
All meet as friends to-day — to-morrow, part : 
Breathe, native soil ! one blessing from thy heart ; 
Speak in the breeze that doth these leaflets stii-. 
And deign to make me thine interpreter. 



Soft and low, soft and low, 

A whisper comes from the soil : 

" What ! ask ye a blessing ? already blest. 

In your evening pleasure's quiet zest. 

In the peaceful dreams of your nightly rest. 

The meed of your daily toil." 



180 

Wildly sweet, wildly sweet, 

The tree-tops echo the tone, 
Bonie aloft by their branches waving high, 
And wafted away towards the azure sky, 
Enraptured each ear, and enchained each eye, 

By Nature, and her alone. 

" Truly blest, truly blest. 

In the memories of the past ; 
Ye know that your fathers, a noble race, 
Their blessing left to their dwelling-place ; 
Their names shall the page of History grace, 

As long as these mountains last. 

" Wake the harp, wake the lyre, 

For the men of that earlier day. 
They were daring of heart, they were strong of hand : 
Their watch-woixl was ' God and our native land ! ' 
They are now enrolled in the heavenly band ; 

They are blest, they are blest, for aye ! 

" Wake the harp, waken lyre, 
For their ' children's children ' stand 
Where in days of old the ' Fathers ' trod. 
Ye have kept the vows that were made to God, 
Where those ' Fathers ' knelt on yonder sod — 
God bless you, my noble band ! 

" Wander far, wander long. 
My children, it gives me no pain ; 
For the brooklet that murmurs through this vale 
Is like the stream of the southern tale, — 
Who drinks of its waters can never fail 

To come back for a drauglit again. 

" Childhood's voice, childhood's mirth. 
E'er pleasant, thrice pleasant here ; 
For, when gray-haired men, they'll recall this day, 
And I know their children will cease their pluy, 
To learn where the ' Fathers ' knelt to pray, 
While the olden tales they hear. 

" Sunset hour,- sunset hour — 

It hastens my parting song. 
'Twas a good old custom, that set of sun 
Should smile her last upon labor done, — 
I am listening now for the sunspt gun : 

' Good night ! ' to this joyous throng." 



181 

And I, too, bid " Good night ! " — I've tried to tell, 
What to each heai-t, I ween, is better told, 
By myriad voices, Nature's songs that swell, — 
So may it be until the world grows old. 
May human hearts tlirill to these murmurs sweet, 
Till, on the river's brink, the angels' feet 
Shall wait to guide them to the realms of light, 
And loving lips shall speak the last " Good night ! " 

Rev. C. Trowbridge WoodruflP then read, with admirable effect, 
the closing poem of" the occasion, written by Mrs. Ann S. Stephens, 
the distinguished authoress of New York, a native of Ancient 
Woodbury : — 

A POEM 

By Mrs. Ann S. Stephens, written for the second centennial cel- 

ebi'ation at Woodbury : 

We have met — we have met, by the graves of our sires, 
Where the forest once reddened with war council fires, 
Where the smoke of the wigwam, while curling on high. 
Left its bloom on the hemlock, — its cloud on the sky. 

Let us turn from the brightness of this happy houi', 
Two centuries back, when the savage held power. 
From the Naugatuck, sweeping through gorges and glen. 
To the bright Housatonic and onward again. 
Here a wilderness spread in its wildness and gloom. 
Revealed by the starlight of dogwood in bloom. 
And the broad rivers ran in the flickering shade, 
Which the pine trees and cedars alternately made. 
Here the chiefs gathered wild in their gorgeous array. 
And their war-path was red at the dawning of day 
Along the broad plain where light lingers clear, 
Came the crack of the rifle — the leap of the deer. 

When the leaves of the oak were all downy and red. 
And the wild cherry blossoms were white overhead, 
When the buds and the sap of the maple were sweet, 
And the child lay asleep on the moss at her feet, 
Here the squaw sat at work in the cool of the trees, 
While her lord roamed at will, or reclined at his ease, — 
This — this is the picture all savagely grand. 
Which our forefathers found when they sought out this land. 

22 



182 

The contract was lionest our ancestors made 
When they found the red warriors lords of the shade ; 
They came not to wrangle or fight for the sod, 
But armed with the law and the blessing of God, 
With the gold they had won by privation and toil, 
They purchased a right to the rivers and soil. 
Then their cabins were built, and they planted the corn. 
Though the warwhoop soon answered the blast of the horn, 
And the sound of the axe as it rang through the wood 
But challenged a contest of carnage and blood. 
Still, upward and onward in peril of life 
They planted our homesteads with labor and strife. 
For labor is mighty, and courage is grand, 
When it conquers the foe as it toils with the hand. 
While the war-cry resounded from valley and hill. 
The smoke of the fallow rose steady sCnd still ; 
If a cabin was burnt on the hills or the plain, 
A score of stout hearts piled the logs up again. 
If famine appeared, it Avas not to one roof. 
For charity then had its power and its proof; 
No mortar stood empty while one teemed with corn. 
For of danger and want is true brotherhood born. 
Thus our forefathers worked, and our forefathers won 
The wealth we inherit from father to son. 
Till their heads grew as white as the snow when it lies 
On the pine branches lifted half way to the skies, 
And they laid themselves down in the ripeness of years, 
While a new generation baptized them with tears. 
While the meeting-house, crowned with its belfry and spire. 
Takes rose-tints from dawn — from the sunset its fire, — 
While our homesteads are built, where the log cabin stood. 
And our fields ripen grain to the verge of the wood. — 
We ask for no trophies to tell of their deeds, 
No thunder of cannon, nor tramping of steeds. 
For each wild flower that springs to the smile of its God, 
Has written their virtues abroad on the sod. 

We have met — we have met in the bloom of the year, 
The first glow of smnmer encircles us here ; 
The sunshine is warm on the riiiening fruit. 
And the whip-poor-will sings when the robin is mute ; 



183 

Our mills as they toil through their burden of grain, 

Send over the waters a mellow refrain. 

While the wind whispers low as it whispered to them, 

And sways the pale rose on its delicate stem, 

Our souls as they feel the melodious thrill, 

Send up a thanksgiving more exquisite still. 

And our fathers might bend from their heaven of bliss, 

To smile on a scene of rejoicing like this. 

Rev. C. T. Woodruff, Rector of St. Paul's Church, Wood- 
bury, then said the concluding prayer, as follows : — 

" Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy king- 
dom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is done in heaven. Give 
us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we 
forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into tempta- 
tion ; but deliver us from evil. Amen." 

" O Lord, who hast taught us that all our doings, without charity, 
are nothing worth ; send thy Holy Ghost, and pour into our hearts 
that most excellent gift of charity, the very bond of peace, and of all 
vii'tues ; without which, whosoever liveth is counted dead before thee : 
Grant this for thine only Son Jesus Christ's sake. Amen." 

" O God, who art the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kin"-s 
and Lord of lords ; the Almighty Ruler of nations ; we adore and 
magnify thy glorious name for all the great things which thou hast 
done for us. 

We render thee thanks for the goodly heritage which thou hast 
given us ; for the civil and I'eligious privileges which we enjoy ; and 
for the multiplied manifestations of thy favor towards us. Grant 
that we may show forth our thankfulness for these thy mercies, by 
living in reverence of thy almighty power and dominion, in humble 
reliance on thy goodness and mercy, and in holy obedience to thy 
righteous laws. Preserve, we beseech thee, to our country, the bless- 
ings of peace ; restore them to nations deprived of them ; and secure 
them to all the people of the earth. 

May the kingdom of the Prince of Peace come ; and, reigning in 
the hearts and lives of men, unite them in holy fellowship ; that so 
their only strife may be, who shall show forth, with most humble and 
holy fervor, the praises of Him who hath loved them, and made them 
kings and priests unto God. We implore thy blessing on all in leg- 
islative, judicial and executive authority, that they may have grace, 
wisdom, and understanding, so to discharge their duties as most effec- 



184 

tucilly to promote thy glory, the interests of true religion and virtue, 
and the peace, good order, and welfare of this State and nation. Con- 
tinue, Lord, to prosper our institutions for the promotion of sound 
learning, the difl'usion of virtuous education, and the advancement ot 
Christian truth, and of the purity and prosperity of thy Church ; change, 
we beseech thee, every evil heart of unbelief; and shed the quicken- 
ing influences of thy Holy Spirit on this community, and on all the 
people of this land. Save us from the guilt of abusing the blessings 
of prosperity to luxury and licentiousness, to irreligion and vice ; lest 
we provoke thee, in just judgment, to visit our oftences with a rod, and 
our sins with scourges. Imprint on our hearts, we beseech thee, a 
deep and habitual sense of this great truth, that the only security for 
the continuance of the blessings which we enjoy, consists in our ac- 
knowledgment of thy sovereign and gracious Providence, and in 
humble and holy submission to the Gospel of thy Son Jesus Christ. 
And, while thy unmerited goodness to us, O God of our salva- 
tion, leads us to repentance, may we offer ourselves, our souls and 
bodies, a living sacrifice to thee, who hast preserved and redeemed us, 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." 

" O God, whose days are without end, and whose mercies can not 
be numbered, make us all, we beseech thee, deeply sensible of the 
shortness and uncertainty of human life ; and let thy Holy spirit lead 
us through this vale of misery, in holiness and righteousness, all the 
days of our lives : That, when we shall have served thee in our gen- 
eration, we may be gathered unto our fathers, having the testimony 
of a good conscience ; in the communion of the Catholic Church ; in 
the confidence of a certain faith ; in the comfort of a reasonable, re- 
lifious and holy hope ; in favor with thee, our God, and in perfect 
charity with all the world : All which, we ask, through Jesus Christ 
our Lord. Amen." 

" The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and 
the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all, evermore. Amen." 

Rev. Philo Judson, an aged clergyman of Rocky Hill, Conn., a 
native of Woodbury, after making the following remarks, pronounced 
the benediction, and the great assembly broke up, to meet no more 
on a similar occasion, wnthin our beautiful valley : 

Mr. President : — This is a glorious and interesting day to * 
Woodbury. I am proud to say that I am a descendant of the Pil- 
grim fathers. 



185 

I have attended celebrations before, but never one equal to this. 
It excels all that have been held in this State. I have been informed 
by those who were present at the Litchfield County Celebration, 
August 13th and 14th, 1851, that it was not equal to this in point of 
interest, though that was a County Celebration. When Woodbury 
takes hold of any subject or enterprise, it moves forward, and excels 
others. 

Woodbury, in the reputation and elevation of character of its 
inhabitants, excels any other town in the State, of the same popula- 
tion. She has produced more great literary men. Her voice, influ- 
ence, and power have been felt in the halls of Congress, and Courts 
of justice. 

Look at our Smiths, Benedicts, Shermans, Minors, Strongs, Jud- 
sons, Phelpses, and Marshalls. 

Look at our Beers. An anecdote may show something of his 
character when a lad. 

A lady remarked, when young, she was in the same class at 
school. When Beers was not there, she could keep the head ; but 
when that plague, Seth P. Beers, came, I knew I must lose it, as he 
was the best speller, and would beat all the others in the school. We 
might know that he would do something in the world. But he was 
good in Jigures, and he has figured, as you have seen, here, on Litch- 
field hills, and all over the United States. Our Beers was brewed in 
Woodbury, and we sent him on to Litchfield Hill, where he worked 
andfoarned, and did very much to make Litchfield what she was and 
now is. 

Li a masterly and skillful manner, he arranged and systematized 
the school fund, brought order out of confusion, and placed it in a 
situation to be managed with much less labor and expense than be- 
fore his accession to ofiice, following the good example of Hillhouse. 

Our fathers enacted a law, that made it the duty of all the inhab- 
itants to attend meeting on the Sabbath. If they were absent a 
particular number of Sabbaths, they must be called to account at the 
close of the year, and if absent too many Sabbaths, were fined five 
dollars. Jehu Minor and others were in the habit of riding on each 
Saturday, towards night, through the neighborhood, and letting the 
people know the Sabbath was approaching, announcing to them that 
they must lay aside their work and worldly concerns by sunset, take 
their Bibles, and on the Sabbath, go to meeting. 

I wish we had Jehu's now to go through the length and breadth of 



186 

our towns, calling upon the people to prepare for the Sabbath, and 
be in the Sanctuary on the Lord's day. 

As soon as the people began to neglect the place of worship on the 
Sabbath, iniquity increased a hundred fold. 

This morning we met for prayer at Bethel Rock. My friends, 
my feelings and emotions were such as language cannot describe. 
We stood on sacred and holy ground. There our Pilgrim fathers 
and mothers worshiped on the Sabbath for about eight years, during 
the summer season. The overhanging rock, as you saw, is perhaps 
300 feet long, and very high. Our fathers, seated by this rock, 
would to some extent be shielded from the storms. Sentinels were 
placed on the top of the rock, so as to give the alarm if the Indians 
approached. There was a stone pulpit, as you saw. O ! what 
prayers were there offered by our fathers. Prayer meetings have 
been held there, more or less, ever since. In 1811,1 attended a 
prayer meeting with Dr. Azel Backus, Dr. Bennet Tyler, Dr. 
Lyman Beecher, Rev. Messrs. Clark, Harrison, and others. It was 
one of uncommon interest and solemnity — we wrestled with God in 
prayer. 

Are we now prepared to receive a blessing from the God of our 
fathers ? And shall we now so look up to God by faith, that our 
souls shall be baptized anew with the Holy Ghost, the great 
principles of our fathers be revived, and all of us consecrate our- 
selves anew unto God ? Do we not feel that God is now with us by 
his special presence and Spirit ? We believe that numbers of you 
feel this. Let us carry from this place the fire of heaven, and the 
spirit of our Saviour. 

Woodbury has produced more great and eminent men than any 
other town of equal size. Dr. Dwight of Yale College remarked, 
that Hon. Nathaniel Smith's native talent was superior to that of any 
man he ever met. He had not his equal in this State — some say, 
not his equal or superior in New England. 

This has been a glorious celebration. Even our friend, Hon. 
Charles Chapman, of Hartford, comes here to share in the glory, 
trying to claim some relationship here. We had supposed he had 
popularity and glory enough in Hartford for any one man. 

But he labored very hard, as you have seen, to make out that he 
was the great-grandson of somebody in Woodbury ! I do not know 
but he made it out, because he will make out anything he under- 
takes. 

But while listening to his spicy, eloquent, and able speech, I be- 



187 

lieve we should have been willing to adopt him as a grandson. At 
the next centennial celebration, they will probably be willing to 
adopt him as a. son! 

The Historical Address by William Cothren, your able historian, 
was very learned, interesting, eloquent, and instructive. He is de- 
serving of much credit, and has done immense service to the com- 
munity in giving us the History of Woodbury. It is an able work, 
and must have required much persevering research. It is read with 
deep interest by those away from Woodbury. Many lay it on their 
tables, next to their Bibles. It is read by those that are not de- 
scendants, with great interest. It is a very popular work among 
intelligent and literary men. Its interest will increase as time passes 
on. In fifty or one hundred years from this time, it will be read 
with tenfold more interest than now, even in Woodbury. It will go 
down to generations yet unborn, and be considered as one of the 
most interesting of histories. Cothren's name will be immortal — 
remembered as long as time shall endure. Many will rise up, and 
call him blessed ! 

Philo M. Trowbridge is deserving of much credit for collecting 
and preserving facts, and assisting in the several historical works. 
He will receive a blessing, and the community will never forget him. 

Woodbury has sent forth more ministers than any other town 
within my knowledge. Nearly eighty heralds of the cross have de- 
scended from the loins of the first William Judson. Many of them 
have borne his honored surname, and many others have borne the 
honorable names of the female alliances. They have preached the 
Gospel far and wide, and their labors have been greatly blessed. 
None can estimate the great and good results which have arisen from 
the labors of the ministers who have gone out from Ancient Wood- 
bury. Eternity alone can unfold them. 

We are now about to pronounce the blessing. The solemn mo- 
ment has arrived, and we are now about to part, to meet no more in 
this woi'ld. 

Are you all now prepared to receive the blessing of salvation, 
through the atoning blood of Christ ? Will you now all go forth 
determined to carry out the great principles of your Pilgrim fathers, 
and make sacrifices to save souls and bless the world wherever you 
go ? What is your response ? 

Are you now ready to receive the blessing of Heaven ? — And 
now, may the grace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the love 
of God, and the communion and indwelling of the Holy Spirit, be 
with you all, now and ever. Amen and Amen. 



188 



LETTERS, ODES, &c. 

Previous to the close of the exercises at the Stantl, William Coth- 
ren, Chairman of the General Committee, announced in its behalf, 
that a considerable number of letters, odes and toasts, were in the 
hands of the Committee, which could not be read for want of time, 
but that they would all appear in the book of the proceedings of the 
celebration. In accordance with this promise, they are here recorded 
with many thanks to their distinguished authors. 

From Hon. John Lorimer Graham, of New York, a native of 
London, England, and grandson of Ancient Woodbury. 

New York, July 2, 1859. 
William Cothren, Esq., 

Chairman of Committee, S^c, Woodbury, Conn. 

Dear Sir, — I accepted with great pleasure your kind invitation 
to be present at the Historical Celebration of the Second Centennial 
Anniversary of the first exploration of the Town of Woodbury, &c., 
on the 4th and 5th inst., and it is now a source of deep regret that 
the sudden illness of one of my family prevents my attendance. 

I highly approve of these demonstrations ; they are just tributes 
to the memories of our patriotic and virtuous ancestors; they con- 
tribute to perpetuate the knowledge of their energy, enterprise and 
morals; distinguishing characteristics of the race of men who first 
peopled ^Hhe land of steady habits;" they teach to the rising genera- 
tion a duty which should be constantly inculcated ; veneration for our 
progenitors who, in their eventful lives, portrayed the highest attributes 
of man. 

During fourteen years of my youth, I accompanied my revered 
father in an annual visit he made to his aged mother, in Southbury. 
It was my father's custom to take me on the morning after our arrival 
to the rural spot "where the rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep," 
and there standing beside the tombs of his venerated father and 
grandfather, he would discourse of their virtues and piety, and, pointing 
to the tablets he had himself erected to their memories, he patheti- 
cally enjoined it upon me to imitate the example of these excellent 
sires, — especially adverting to the holy life of that eminent man of 
God, his noble grandfather, '■'■John Graham, D. D." whose name he 
bore, and who for fifty-four years had been the spiritual teacher of 
the people of Southbury. 



189 

The impressions produced, by these solemn scenes have not been and 
never can be effaced, and iliey had a powerful influence, as will your 
celebration, upon the hearts of all true sons of "Ancient Woodbuiy," 
in causing me ever to revere, through life, these departed worthies 
whom you assemble to honor. 

It is neai'ly half a century since these scenes occurred. You can 
realize what an intense interest I have felt in again visiting that sacred 
spot, and how great is ray disappointment in not being able to partici- 
pate in your celebration. I should with pleasure have offered some 
extemporaneous remarks, as requested by your committee, and, to the 
extent of my ability, contributed to enliven the joyous occasion. 

Let it be remembered that none who here attend your festive scene 
can be present at another similar celebration ; all of us before that 
time will have passed away; but I trust that while we live we will 
cherish a fond and reverential recollection of our honored forefathers, 
and that their memories may be embalmed in the hearts of their latest 
posterity — who should emulate their noble example and hold it up 
for imitation to their children's children. 

I beg to present to the committee the accompanying sentiment, 
which I should have offered had I been present at their festival. 

With best respects and thanks to your colleagues of the committee, 
and with renewed assurances of esteem, 
I remain, Dear Sir, 

Very sincerely your friend, 

JOHN LORIMER GRAHAM. 

William CoTHREN, Esq. — The Historian of '■'Ancient Wood- 
bury" whose industry, accuracy and impartiality, have produced a 
most interesting and faithful narrative and truthful history, entitling 
him to the lasting gratitude of all the descendants of the first settlers 
of the soil which is endeared to them by recollections as sacred as 
they are imperishable. 

Given by John Lorimer Graham, of New York. 

From Hon. Charles J. Hill, of Rochester, New York, a native 
of Woodbury. 

Rochester, June 28, 1859. 
Gentlemen : — With gratitude I received your cordial invitation 
to attend your interesting celebration, and most sincerely regret that 
I am now obliged to relinquish the pleasing anticipation I had in- 
dulged of being present and responding in person. 
23 



190 

I am a native of the present town of "Woodbury, and trace my pa- 
ternal and maternal ancestry, all residents of Ancient Woodbury 
nearly back to its first settlement. 

From twelve to sixteen years of age, I was a member of the fam- 
ily of one whose name was honored throughout the State, and whose 
memory, as my early patron, is embalmed in the deep recesses of my 
heart. 

The lovely valley and grounds, skirted by " Bethel Rock " and the 
more distant hills, the pleasant streams, and all the delightful scene- 
ry of Central Woodbury, were entirely familiar to me, and consti- 
tuted my play-ground. 

But what made a more indelible impression on my mind, was the 
presence of the great and good men who then resided there and with- 
in the limits of Ancient Woodbury. Men of strong intellect, high 
cultivation, eminently pure morals, whose mission it was to honor the 
memory of as honorable and virtuous an ancestry as ever blessed any 
community ; by cultivating their virtues, and fostering the institutions 
of religion and literature, and handing them down in their purity 
with their attendant blessings to the present generation. 

It is a pleasing reflection, that in the picturesque valley of Wood- 
bury, commenced the first settlement of Litchfield County, so cele- 
brated for the large number of eminent men she has sent out to settle 
and adorn all our new states and territories, no less than for the pre- 
eminent position she maintains at home, in reference to all the insti- 
tutions which enlighten and bless a people. 

Is it strange that the present generation should delight to honor 
the memory of that noble band of emigrants who first traversed the 
wilderness to the site of Woodbury ; men of indomitable enterprise, 
lofty pati-iotism, and devoted piety ? 

How could 1 fail to entertain a high veneration for the past gene- 
rations of that locality, when it was my privilege near half a century 
ago, ahhougli but a lad, to be familiar with the faces, and forms, and 
characters of such men as the Rev. Messrs. Benedict, Wildman, 
Backus, Tyler, Porter, and others, in the ministry, and Messrs. Smith, 
Benedict, Minor, Sti-ong, Phelps, and others, in the legal profession ? 
If such were some of the professional men of those days, what was 
the character of others in the various professions which I cannot en- 
numerate,-^and what kind of men were the laity among whom they 
lived ? May I not say as a general remark, that they were the up- 
rit^ht, intelligent, good men, who deserved the society and intercourse 
of the eminent men just alluded to? 



191 

Ancient Woodbury contributed liberally in men for (he defence of 
our common country. Many of us whose ancestry resided thei-e, back 
to the early settlement of the town, can say that the li\es of not a 
few of them were sacrificed in the armies of the old French and 
Revolutionary wars. 

She has done much for other sections of the country, in sending 
out emigrants, such as are ever wanted to fill places of labor and high 
responsibility; men to adorn the various professions, to carry forward 
business enterprises, sustain good institutions, as well as to cope with 
the severest hardships of pioneer life. 

Forty three years ago I came to Rochester a young adventurer. 
This present city of Jifty thousand, then had a population of three 
hundred ; among whom I found a small representation from "Ancient 
Woodbury ;" say two men, one of whom lately deceased, the other 
still living here ; both of whom I must refer to again. 

Although the numbers furnished by Ancient Woodbury to this lo- 
cality, have not been large, yet among them have been from the first 
settlement of the place to the present time, men of high position ; 
some of them in the first rank as professional gentlemen, legislators 
and philanthropists. 

One (Ruluff D. Hannahs, from Bethlem,) was among the early 
pioneers of Western New York and Rochester ; the first exporter 
(it is believed,) of Genesee Flour direct to New England by teams ; 
one of the first to transport produce down the Genesee Valley to 
Rochester by boats ; the first to run a boat over Genesee Falls, 
saving himself by swimming to the shore ; and the last person who 
passed the celebrated " Carthage Bridge," 196 feet high, with a 
loaded team, just previous to its fall. He is now enjoying a "green 
old age," with a competency and the esteem of our citizens. 

Permit me to express my enthusiastic approval of the action of 
your citizens on the last " Fourth of July," in resolving to hold a 
" Centennial Celebration." 

The thousands who will be there, and the other thousands whose 
hearts only will be with you, will, I trust, be richly rewarded in the 
elevating and ennobling inspirations of the occasion. 

How can we fail to be reminded of our worthy ancestry by a thou- 
sand incidents and mementos ; and after long years of absence, 
looking again upon few of their faces, but many of their former 
abodes, or in silent sadness reading inscriptions upon the monuments 
which mark the places where their ashes repose. 

Names of persons highly esteemed in life for varied talents and 



192 

virtues; others distinguished for their eccentricities; some for their 
eminent piety ; some for their wealth ; some for their great intellect ; 
others for their unbending integrity ; (I hope none for lack of it,) 
last, but not least, others for their overpowering eloquence, will be 
brought back to the memory with impressive vividness. 

Thus will the memory, perhaps the concience, be quickened to a 
retrospect of the instructions, warnings and maxims which multitudes 
had received from the lips of those to whom the present and future 
generations are so greatly indebted. Nor is this indebtedness felt 
merely by the present inhabitants of Ancient Woodbury, but in all 
sections of our country are to be found emigrants, who, with grateful 
hearts, and oft with tearful eye, would rejoice in any opportunity to 
testify to the salutary influence of their worthy ancestors. Many of 
this class who will not be present at your jubilee, will nevertheless 
receive the record of your doings, which they will ponder with intense 
interest, and with unwonted emotions tell the story to their children. 
Respectfully and sincerely yours, 

CHAS. J. HILL. 

P. M. Troavbridge, N. B. Smith, John C. Ambler, Esquires, 
and others. Committee. 

From Hon. John Sherman, member of Congress from Ohio, a 
grandson of Woodbury : — 

Washington, Feb. 24, 1859. 

My Dear Sir : — Since the receipt of your circular-note, I have 
been debating with myself whether I could accept your invitation. 
If it is possible I will do so. Nothing could give me greater pleasure 
than to join in the celebration of the Two Hundredth Anniversary 
of the Exploration of Ancient Woodbury. Though born in Ohio, I 
have been led to respect and cherish the local history of old Con- 
necticut, the birth-place and home of all my ancestors for two hun- 
dred years. If, therefore, other engagements will allow, I will surely 
attend. Very truly yours, 

W. Cothren, Esq. JOHN SHERMAN. 

Sentiment by Hon. Royal Ralph Hinman, of Hartford, a na- 
tive of Southbury : — 

" May the present descendants of Woodbury become as great and 
good as were their ancestors, the Hrst settlers." 



193 

Sentiment by Shersian Tuttle, Esq., of Southbury : — 

" Our honored ancestors : may we imitate their virtues, and ever 
cherish their memories with tender emotions." 

From Samuel Follek, D. D., of Andover, Mass. : — 

Andover, Mass., Feb. 14, 1859. 
My Dear Sir : — I thank you and the Committee for their hearty 
invitation to be present at your proposed meeting next July. I can 
only now say, that I shall come if possible, and shall take the liberty 
of inviting my only sister, Mrs. Lester, of Renssellaerville, who was 
born on the south side of Judson Lane, a little east of the Pompe- 
raug, to accompany me. Such a gathering I have long desired, and 
I pray the Lord may allow me to be one of the great assembly. 

Most truly yours, 

S. FULLER. 

From Col. Henry Stoddard, of Dayton, Ohio, a native of 
Woodbury : — 

Dayton, June 29, 1859. 
P. M. Trowbridge, Esq., 

Dear Sir : — Several years since I addressed a letter to the late 
Judge Phelps, in answer to one from him, requesting information in 
relation to Major Amos Stoddard, who was a native of Woodbury, 
which might enable Mr. Colhren to take some notice of Major' 
Stoddard in his history of Woodbury, which he did in very favorable 
terras. In my letter to Judge Phelps, (which Mr. Cothren may still 
have,) I stated the manner in which Major Stoddard's militaiy chest 
and papers came into my possession, and I alluded to a small manu- 
script volume of miscellaneous productions of his pen, and amongst 
others, a sermon in verse. 

Under the impression that the novelty of such a production from a 
man of a military character would not be inappropriate to such an 
occasion as your Anniversary celebration, and might amuse some of 
those who may be present on the fourth and fifth of July, and as its 
tone, and the sentiments it promulgates are not unfavorable to the 
character of its author, (a native of our old town,) my son has copied, 
and I herewith send it to you, to be disposed of as your Committee 
shall think proper. 

I have up to this time had a lingering hojje that I should be able 
to be with you on the fourth and fifth, but the causes which led me 
to the expression of the fears which I stated in my note to you on 



194 

the 11th inst., still exist, and I shall not be able to make the visit to 
the place of my birth, which would afford me so much pleasure. 

I assure you and your Committee, my dear sir, that it would afford 
me great satisfaction to be with you and the few of my early ac- 
quaintances who are still living, though I fear that after an absence 
of more than half a century, I should find their number so small, I 
should indeed be a stranger. Your jubilee, and the proceedings 
indicated in your circular, cannot fail to be interesting to all who 
shall be permitted to witness them, and especially to those like my- 
self, who have long been absent from the scenes of their childhood. 

Accept, dear sir, for yourself and the citizens of our ancient town, 
my acknowledgment for their kind remembrance of 
Yours respectfully, 

HENRY STODDARD. 

P. M. Trowbridge, Esq., Chairman, &c. 

A Sermon. By Maj. Amos Stoddard, a native of Woodbury. 

" Why art thou so full of heaviness, O my soul, and why art thou so disquieted 
within me 1 put thy trust in God ! " — Psahn 42 : 6, 7. 

WnT drops the head? Why languishes the eye? 

What means the flowing tear, and swelling sigh ? 

Where are the lenient med'cines to impart 

Their balmy virtue to a bleeding heart ? 

Fruitless are all attempts of kind relief, 

To mix her cordial, and allay my grief. 

So strong my anguish — so severe ray pain. 

Weak is philosophy, and reason vain ; 

Their rules like fuel make my passions glow, 

Quicken each pang, and point the sting of woe. 

Imagination strives to please the eye. 

While dark'ning tempests skirt the floating sky — 

And fancy no sweet thoughts can now suggest 

To lull the raging tumult of my breast. 

In vain chaste mirth invites — or friendship calls, 

Wit dies a jest, and conversation palls ; 

The works of art and nature dull appear, 

And each obtruding thought creates despair — 

No scenes amuse me which amus'd before, 

And what delighted once delights no more, 

The wide creation beautiful appears. 

And nature's aspect a rich verdure wears ! 



195 



Yet still her bloom with sickening eyes I see 
And all her luxury is lost to me. 
The budding plants of variegated hue, 
The blossoms op'ning with the morning dew — 
The vernal breeze which gently fans the flowers, 
The laughing meadows and distilling showers — 
The enamel'd garden where the works of art 
Give strength to nature — and fresh charms impart- 
Where gaudy pinks and blushing roses bloom. 
Rich in array, and fragrant with perfume — 
Where Flora smiling sees her offspring vie, 
To spread their beauties, and regale the eye — 
Alas ! all in vain with charms united glow. 
To deck the scene, or gild the face of woe. 
So when the morning lark ascending sings, 
While joy attunes her voice, and mounts her wings- 
Tho' to her cheerful notes the hills reply. 
And warbling music dances round the sky — 
Still in her strains no pleasing charms I find, 
No svreet enchantment to compose my mind ; 
In vain the sun his gaudy pride displays, 
No genial wai-mth attends his fervent rays. 
So when his absent light the moon supplies, 
And planets glitter to enrich the skies — 
No gleam of comfort from their lustre flows. 
No harbinger of peace, or calm repose ; 
But gloomy vapors o'er the night prevail, 
And pestilence is spread in ev'ry gale ! 
Thus weakened by a gradual decay. 
With sighs I pass the melancholy day ; 
Prepare to drink life's bitter draught with pain, 
And thirsty still, alas ! I taste again ! 
But stop ! O man, thy plaintive strains suppress, 
With Christian patience learn to acquiesce — 
The instructive voice of reason calmly hear. 
And let religion check the starting tear. 
What e'er the will of Providence assigns, 
'Tis infidelity alone repines, 
For those who trust in God disdain to grieve. 
And what our Father sends, with joy receive ; 



196 

Whose sharp convictions testify his love, 

And certain blessings in the end will prove, 

Who sees how man would err without control, 

Afflicts the body to improve the soul ; 

By power on man he lays what man deserves. 

And by chastisement — thus the whole preserves, 

So that though low'ring skies and strengthening gales, 

Should raise a mighty storm, and rend the skies — 

Yet if calm reason at the helm preside. 

My little barque will stem the frowning tide — 

And adverse currents shall at last convey. 

The shattered vessel to the realms of day ! 

Thus satisfied — how rash it is for man, 

When under God's correction to complain ! 

My soul with sad disquietude opprest. 

Directs her flight to heav'n in search of rest — 

And refuge take — (which peace at last will bring) 

Beneath the shadow of th' Almighty's wing. 

On him I fix my mind, and place my trust, 

A being infinitely wise and just — 

And if his Providence some beams create 

To brighten the complexion of my fate — 

My thankful tribute to his throne I'll raise. 

In joyful hymns of gratitude and praise ; 

But should indulgence suit not his designs 

Who evil into happiness refines — 

Let due submission make my burden light, 

And constant think — "Whatever is — is right!" 

Then be thou not disquieted my soul, 

Have lively faith — and that shall make thee whole. 

When heav'n inflicts — with calmness bear the stroke. 

Since to repine, is only to provoke ; 

Learn to adore the justice of thy God, 

And kiss the sacred hand which holds the rod, 

That sacred hand which first the heart explores, 

Probes ev'ry wound, and searches all the sores ; 

Then the right medicine properly applies 

To cleanse the part where deep infection lies ! 

Hear this, thou coward man — nor dread the smart. 

Which tho' it stings, will purify the heart ; 



197 

For resignation will promote the cure, 
And tho' the means are sharp — the end is sure. 
Since then afflictions are thro' mercy sent, 
To be of good the happy instrument ; 
Since for the noblest ends they are designed, 
To form the judgment and improve the mind ; 
To curb our passions — to direct our love, 
To awe mankind, and speak a God above ; 
O may I view them with religious eye, 
Without a murmur and without reply. 
Hence shall I taste the sweets which evils bring, 
And seek the honey while I feel the sting ; 
Hence shall I learn the bitter cup to bless, 
And drink it as a draught of happiness ; 
A wholesome potion which — tho' mix'd with gaJl, 
May still preserve my life — my soul — my all ! 
So though the promis'd fruit should fail the vine, 
The fig-tree sicken, and its bloom decline ; 
The labor of the olive be in vain, 
And flocks infested, perish on the plain; 
Tho' corn and oil, and wine at once decrease, 
The fields grow barren, and the harvests cease ; 
The baffled hinds their fruitless toil deplore, 
And vales uncheerful — " laugh and sing no more," 
Yet still with gladness would I serve the Lord, 
Adore his wisdom, and obey his word ! 
Hear thou, O God ! regard a suppliant's prayer, 
Soothe all my pangs, and save me from despair. 
Illuminate my soul with gladsome rays, 
And tune my voice to thy eternal praise, — 
Dispel the clouds of darkness from my eyes, 
And make me know that to be good is wise. 
Let christian precepts all my soul employ, 
And be not more my duty than my joy ; 
Let conscience void of art and free from guile, 
Still in my bosom innocently smile ; 
Her cheerful beams will gild the face of fate, 
And make me happy in whatever state. 
Hence shall I learn my talent to improve, 
If poor by patience, and if rich by love ; 
24 



198 



If fortune smiles, let me be virtue's friend, 

And where I go, let charity attend ; 

Within my bosom, let compassion dwell, 

To soften all the woes which others feel ; 

T' assuage by kind relief affliction's sighs. 

And wipe the bursting tears from widows' eyes ; 

To feed the hungry — the distress'd to cheer, 

The needy succor, and the feeble rear ! 

Hence shall my mind inflamed with public good, 

Unshaken stand where plenty rolls her flood ! 

Hence shall I scorn temptation's gilded bait. 

Look Avith disdain upon the pomp of state, — 

And by humility be truly wise. 

Learn vice to shun, and grasp the christian's prize. 

But if it be thy blessed will to spread 

Clouds of thick darkness, low'ring o'er my head, 

Let me have grace to know in my distress 

I still to thee may have a free access, — 

And be an heir (tho' all the world should frown,) 

Of heav'nly glory and a future crown. 

From these reflections true contentment flows, — 

Contentment such as grandeur seldom knows ; 

Hence in the lonely cot a relish springs. 

Above the taste of courts, and pride of kings ! 

Thus in the flood of wealth be thou my guide, 

And steer my course 'twixt av'rice and pride, 

Or in the ebb of fortune teach my mind 

To know its duty, and to be resign'd. 

Prepare me to receive or good or ill. 

As the result of thy almighty will ; 

Thy will whose chief design and gen'ral plan 

Tend to promote to happiness of man ! 

Be ev'ry sensual appetite supprest. 

Nor the least taint be lurking in my breast ; 

Let steady reason my affections guide, 

And calm content set smiling at ray side ; 

Teach me with scorn to view the things below 

As gaudy phantoms and an empty show. 

But fix my mind upon the things above. 

As the sole object of a christian's love ! 

Make me reflect on my eternal home, 

A dying Saviour and a Hfe to come ; 



199 

Then shall I — as instructed by thy Son, 
In ev'ry station say — " thy will be done ! " 
March 18, 1791. 

From Hon. Thomas B. Butler, of Norwalk, Judge of the Superior 
Court. 

Bridgeport, Feb. 11 th, 1859. 
Friend Cothren : — I thank you cordially for your invitation. I 
do not expect to be in this section of the country, at the time named. 
If I am, I will be at Woodbury. Having once I'esided there, and 
having warm recollections of kindness and attention from many of its 
living citizens, I should enjoy the occasion. 

Very truly yours, 

THOS. B. butler. 

From Miss Julia E. Smith and sister, of Glastenbury, Conn., 
friends and ardent lovers of the history of Ancient Woodbury. 

To the Honorable Committee appointed for the Celebration of the Two 
Hundredth Anniversary of the Exploration of Ancient Woodbury. 

As daughters of Ancient Woodbury, in right of our late mother, 
who was born and bred within her limits, and who received an edu- 
cation there, which would do honor to the young ladies of the present 
age, we would make our most grateful acknowledgments to the hon- 
orable committee for their circular of invitation, and programme of 
the proceedings on that memorable occasion. It is with much regret 
that under our present circumstances, we cannot avail ourselves of 
the great privilege of once more meeting beloved friends, and behold- 
ing the faces of those we honor and respect, though not of our per- 
sonal acquaintance. It is also no small sacrifice to our feelings, that 
we must be denied the pleasure of hearing the living voice of esteemed 
speakers, particularly of the eminent author of that most interesting 
History of Ancient Woodbury. 

With heart-felt wishes for the prosperous termination of these two 
illustrious days, and that the sons of the birth-place of our maternal 
ancestors may so live as to do honor to their noble progenitors, and 
that her daughters may rise up and become a blessing to their age 
and generation, is the sincere desire of 

Your obliged friends the descendants of Ancient Woodbury, 

Misses SMITH. 

Glastenbury, June 27th, 1859. 



200 

From Hon. John E. Hinman, of Utica, New York, a native of 
Southbury : — 

Utica, Blay 17, 1859. 
Messrs. Trowbridge, Bull, Judd, and others. Committee, &c. : 

Gentlemen: — Your kind invitation of the 1st inst. to join your 
celebration of " The Two Hundredth Anniversary of the Exploration 
of Ancient Woodbury," by that noble band of pioneers who sought 
a retuge and a home, and contributed in no small degree to found 
an empire, was duly received. 

Nothing could afford me greater pleasure than to unite with the 
good people of Woodbury in their proposed demonstration of honor, 
respect and gratitude for the memory of those who first explored 
and settled this ancient and favored town — a town renowned in the 
history of the Colony and State of Connecticut ; a town which fur- 
nished its just (and I am proud to say, liberal,) quota of men and 
means in a glorious struggle for civil liberty and national independ- 
ence. 

At the mention of Woodbury, a thousand recollections and associ- 
ations come upon the mind. There rest the hallowed remains of 
many generations of my ancestors ; and there, too, reside many of 
their descendants, whom I greatly regard. 

Age and infirmity will prevent me from being personally present 
at your celebration, but in heart and in spirit I am most cordially 
with you. 

With many thanks for your kind attention, and best wishes and 
prayers for the welfare and happiness of the good people of " An- 
cient Woodbury," and wishing the world would follow their good 
example, I am, dear sir, most truly and respectfully yours, 

JOHN E. HINMAN. 

From R. F. Trowbridge, Esq., of Syracuse, N. Y. 

Syracuse, 10th July, 1859. 

My dear Mr. Cothren : — I regretted that I was compelled to leave 
Woodbury without bidding you a good-by, although I deputized 
Mr. Trowbridge to do so for me. The interest and pleasure which 
it was my happy fortune to find in your classic and beautiful town, 
not only repaid me all my trouble in reaching that picturesque spot, 
but, believe me, dear sir, when I say it is the happiest recollection 
which my memory can present. The many interests and pleasures 
which were crowded into the brief space of time, and which were 
so unexpected by me, will serve to brighten many hours of cheerful 



201 

retrospect in the years to come. I can now scarcely realize that it 
was not all a dream, a light and happy dream which flitted over my 
dull, daily working life, and left its ideal impressions upon my mem- 
ory and my heart. I came among you a stranger ; I left with many 
new tenants in my breast, whose worth and excellence have become 
already very dear to me. 

I shall commence to-morrow to jot down for the compositors up 
stairs, some of the incidents and impressions which I received of 
the people, the ceremonies, the character and customs of the Puritan 
State. There has been hanging for years in my library a portrait of 
Gov. Trumbull, together with a Second Lieutenant's Commission 
issued by him ; and often when I look at it, the remark of Wash- 
ington comes to my memory : " That Gov. T. was always his forlorn 
hope ; that he was the only person on whom he could draw at sight 
for men or munitions, and the draft was never dishonored!" I 
cannot now tell you where I learned it, but read it, or heard it from 
some authentic source. 

I am under many obligations to you for your kind hospitalities, 
and the friendly interest you manifested toward me, even under the 
pressure of so much weight upon ^our attention. Be assured, my 
dear sir, that I fully appreciate it, and shall expect an opportunity 
of repaying it, as a matter of my right. 

Please accept of my most sincere regard. 

Very truly yours, R. F. TROWBRIDGE. 

Wm. Cothren, Esq. 

From Jonathan Knight, M, D., of New Haven, Conn., Profes- 
sor in Yale College : — 

New Haven, June 30, 1859. 
To Wm. Cothren, Esq., Woodbury : 

Dear Sir : — I received, a long time since, an invitation to attend 
the centennial celebration of the settlement of Woodbury, on the 
dth prox., for which I beg to acknowledge my indebtedness. From 
the time I first learned that such a celebration was to be held, I have 
intended to be present at it. I might have availed myself of your 
invitation, and come as a guest, but suppose I can be there of right 
as one of Woodbury descent. My mother's grandfather was born 
in Woodbury. He was Rev. Benjamin Strong, the first clergyman 
of the Parish of Stanwich, where he officiated from 1735 to 1756. 
I have been able to learn very little concerning him, as the Church 
records of Stanwich were destroyed by fire a few years ago. I sup- 



202 

pose he was the Benjamin Strong whose name is in the history of 
Woodbury as having been born in 1710. 

I judge so merely from the identity of the name, and the corres- 
pondence of the time of his birth, with the probable age of the min- 
ister of Stanwich. I hope by further inquiries to find out something 
more about him. With much esteem, yours truly, 

J. KNIGHT. 

From Hon. Royal Ralph Hinaian, of Hartford, Conn,, a native 
of Southbury : — 

P. M. Trowbridge, Esq. : 

Dear Sir : — I informed you in my previous letter that I w uld 
write to you again, whether I would attend at Woodbury the 4th day 
of July, and you know nothing but ill health would preVent my 
being present at the celebration of so important, as well as pleasing, 
an event, of our own first ancestors in this country. I do not feel 
able to attend at Woodbury, which I very much regret. 

The pei'formances of the day will restore not to life, but to recol- 
lection, the ancient fathers of Woodbury, with their standing and 
biography, to their fifth, sixth, seventh, and some of the eighth gene- 
rations ; and the old cemetery will confirm the fact that they lived 
and died there. Rev. Zechariah Walker, who was the first Minis- 
ter, and a principal cause of the settlement, will figure largely on 
this occasion, and Hon. Seth P. Beers, and others of his descendants 
will probably be present to hear the standing of their progenitor. 

John Minor, (the son of Thomas, of Pequot,) the Interpreter of 
the Indian language, and Town Clerk of Stratford and Woodbury, 
a first settler ; Capt. Wm. Curtiss, (Curtice) another important first 
settler, and a grantee of the town ; Hon. Samuel Sherman, of Strat- 
ford, will not be forgotten on this day, as well as his son, Worshipful 
John Sherman, Joseph Judson, Senior, from Concord, Mass., a sub- 
scriber at Stratford, of the fundamental articles of the settlement, as 
was his son, John. 

While the foregoing will be noticed at the meeting, as well as 
Col. Joseph Minor, Titus Hinman, (then young,) Hackaliah Preston, 
and his son William, and many others too numerous to mention ; 
last, though not least, those of a later date, the Thompsons, Grahams, 
Benedicts, Stoddards, Smiths, Bacons, Phelpses, and others, will not 
be forgotten on this occasion. Most respectfully yours, 

ROYAL R. HINMAN. 

YoNKERS, N. Y., June 26, 1859. 



203 

From Prof. Harvey P. Peet, LL. D., of New York, a native 
of Bethlem, and Professor in the Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, 
New York. 

Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, \ 
New York, June 30, 1859. ) 

Gentlemen : — Though strongly tempted to avail myself of your 
kind invitation to meet with my old neighbors and townsmen, and 
their worthy descendants, to celebrate the second centenary of the 
exploration of Ancient Woodbury, I find that imperative ofiicial 
duties will deprive me of that gratification. I will, however, at 
least be with you in spirit, contributing, for the intellectual fruit of 
your pic-nic, a few thoughts and reminiscences, which, I trust, you 
will be in the mood to receive with friendly indulgence. And I 
anticipate to receive, in return, far better than I send, when I come 
to read the record of your sayings and doings on the occasion. 

The large appetite of our ancestors for intellectual food, in their 
day hardly accessible except from the pulpit, is strikingly shown by 
the circumstance that it was the immediate cause of the founding of 
our ancient mother town. The Rev. Zachariah Walker continued his 
sermon so long, that he overpassed the two hours allowed for the 
occupation of the meeting-house in Stratford, by agreement with the 
other division of the Church. Thus compelled to remove into the 
wilderness, or stint themselves in spiritual and intellectual nourish- 
ment, they took care in their " fundamental articles," to reserve 
ample " accommodations for ye ministry," and " a parsell of land for 
ye incouraging a schoole, that learning may not be neglected to 
children." And let us add our prayers to those of the worthy Dea- 
con Minor, when he kneeled upon Good Hill, just two centuries ago, 
the grand wilderness temple with its gray pillars and green canopy, 
towering above him, and before him the lovely valley of the Pompe- 
raug, then first revealing its fertile intervals to Christian eyes — that 
the posterity of those founders, to the remotest generations, may 
never neglect the worship of God, their duty to their fellow men, or 
the training and schooling of their children. 

Many and eloquent will be the voices of bards and orators among 
you, and fitting commemoration will, I know, be given to the rude 
virtues of the red men who once glided through the woods, not for- 
getting the love-lorn Waramaukeag, or that " potent prince," the 
Christian sachem, Weraumaug, at whose death-bed the Rev. Daniel 
Boardman had his great praying match with an Indian Powwow, by 



204 

sheer energy and perseverance in prayer, vanquishing the devil-wor- 
shiper, and driving him into the Housatonic. 

Such were our fathers, sturdy in work, potent in prayer, soHcitous 
as early and as much to have a place of public worship, and provide 
schooling for their children, as to minister to the temporal wants of 
their families. Hence the public spirit of the New-Englanders, so 
largely manifested in churches, schools, and colleges. 

As they hewed down the wilderness, its ancient inhabitants, fierce 
and untamable as they were, vanished after a few short but sharp 
struggles. The red men are gone, leaving no more enduring monu- 
ments than the heap of pebbles that marks the grave of a chieftain ; 
for while degenerate Americans break off and carry away, the red 
men piously added stones to the monuments of the great, or the bed 
of shells, where clams and oysters had ministered, during uncounted 
generations, to the sustenance of a village. If, as some believe, their 
shades, instead of dwelling in their own happy hunting-grounds, yet 
linger around the scenes where their lives passed, how must the 
woods and rocks around you appear to anointed eyes populous with 
dark forms and moui-nful faces ; and how will their spectral eyes 
flash up at the sight of your "Amateur Indian Encampment " on one 
of their ancient seats ! 

I am tempted to dwell a moment on the unselfish patriotism of our 
fathers, who, though enjoying peace in their own inland borders, went 
forth, leaving scarcely an able-bodied man behind, even to gather 
the corn, to peril their lives in defence of their countrymen in more 
exposed situations. Who can read, without a thrill of ancestral 
pride, of the eight hundred able-bodied men from one town of five 
thousand souls, who, like a Highland clan gathering to the summons 
of the fiery cross, left their safe and happy homes, to " moisten with 
their blood every battle-field," in the long and often doubtful struggle 
for independence ? And while the younger and more hardy were 
bearing aloft the flag of their country at Long Island and AVhite 
Plains, as afterward with better fortune at Bennington and Saratoga, 
those whom age or other causes exempted from regular service, 
enrolled themselves in a volunteer corps, each man providing him- 
self with " a good gun, sword or bayonet, and cartridge box, for the 
defence of our invaluable rights and privileges, and promise to sup- 
port the same with our lives and fortunes," as the agreement of the 
Bethlem volunteers reads, — in the last sentence emulating the lofty 
spirit of the signers of that immortal Declaration, that had then just 
gone forth to fill the public mind, and elevate the national feeling 



205 

with the consciousness of a new nationality, destined to fulfill the 
famous prophecy of Berkely — 

" Westward the course of Empire takes its way." 

I will trust yet further to your indulgence, while I say a few words 
of the peculiar favor which my little native town of Bethlem received 
from the Great Head of the Church, in the succession of eminent 
pastors, such as has very seldom been vouchsafed to any one town. 
From the first formation of the society under Dr. Bellamy, in 1739, 
to the resignation of Mr. Langdon, in 1825, a period not much less 
than a century, this little town, among the hills, enjoyed with but 
brief cessations, the ministerial care of pastors, who, as theologians 
and preachers, and two of them as teachers, shone as stars of the first 
magnitude in the bright firmament of New England worthies. To 
Dr. Backus, the second pastor, I owe a more special tribute of grat- 
itude, as under his ministry my first religious impressions were 
received, and in his school I took lessons in the art of teaching, in 
which he was so eminent. Of him it was said, that '' when out of the 
pulpit he ought never to go in, and when in, he ought never to go 
out." In or out, however, he was as one of David's mighty men, 
and I may even say, that he " attained to the first three " of his time. 
The New Haven papers that announced the death of Dr. Dwight, 
remarked that three great pillars of the Church had just been 
removed — Dr. Dwight, Dr. Strong of Hartford, and Dr. Backus, 
whose deaths were all announced in one number of the paper. 

The time has long since gone by, when the people of Ancient 
Woodbury were content with the currants that grew on the increase 
of a few twigs brought from a distant town by one of our mothers 
on horseback, or with mortars like the primitive contrivances of their 
" red brethren," to grind their corn. As our tastes become more fas- 
tidious with the means we have of indulging them, and you will be 
provided with intellectual as well as literal fruit, of the rarest native 
flavor, improved by scientific culture, and ripened by genial suns, I 
will offer no more of my crude currants or half-ground grain, but 
conclude with the hope that the occasion may be one of such unal- 
loyed enjoyment, that the memory of it may endure in the homes of 
every child of Ancient Woodbury, at least till the time comes for 
another Centennial Gathering. 

Very sincerely and faithfully, your fellow townsman, 

HARVEY P. PEET. 

Messrs. John C. Ambler, Wm. R. Harrison, Com. for Bethlem. 
25 



206 

ODE. 

BY MISS HORTENSIA M. THOMAS, OF WOODBURY. 

From hill-side and mountaiu glen, hither ye come. 
Oh ! earth has no dearer spot, — welcome ye home ! 
Say, ye who have wandered far 'neath fairer skies. 
Say where is the landscape as fair in your eyes ? 

Home, home, sweet, sweet home. 
Oh, earth hath no dearer spot than home, sweet home ! 

We count none as strangers here, if they can claim 
That love for their country, burns pure in its flame, 
While mountains or rocky hills echo our song. 
All— all the chorus join, the glad notes prolong. 

Home, home, sweet, sweet home. 
Oh, earth hath no dearer spot than home, sweet home ! 

Once more for your native hearths make the glad strain. 
May peace spread her sheltering wings here not in vain. 
And God grant our peaceful homes foster not pride, 
But grace that shall lead to a home by His side. 

Home, home, sweet, sweet home. 
May we all to that mansion fair, be welcomed Home ! 

From Mrs. Betsey T. A. Whiting, of Vermillionville, Illinois. 

Vermillionville, 111., June 8, 1859. 

Gentlemen : — Having received your kind invitation to attend the 
celebration of the exploration of Ancient Woodbury, on the 4th and 
5th of July, 1859, I exceedingly regret that ill health and home duties 
must prevent my being with you. I am a daughter of New England, 
and although attached to my Western home, I turn with fond recollec- 
tions to my native hill, (Carmel Hill,) Bethlem, and old associates, 
many of whom I trust will be with you at the coming Anniversary. 

Please accept my thanks for yourselves and those you represent, 
ibr your kind invitation, also, my sincere wishes for your continued 
prosperity. 

BETSEY T. AMBLER WHITING. 

Trowbridge, Bull, Judd, &c. 



207 



From Hon. Henry Booth, of Poughkeepsie, N. Y., recently a 
Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in Pennsylvania, and now 
Professor in the Poughkeepsie Law School. 

Poughkeepsie, June 11, 1859. 
P. M. Trowbridge, Esq., 

Dear Sir : — Your circular and note of invitation came to hand a 
month since, or thereabouts; and I have deferred answering in the 
faint hope that I might at length see ray way so clear as to be justi- 
fied in giving a favorable reply. But engagements have thickened 
on me to such an extent that I am nearly compelled to abandon the 
idea of being present, even on an occasion so interesting as your an- 
ticipated jubilee. I have come to this conclusion with extreme reluc- 
tance, and will yet avail myself of any chance that occurs ; but the 
prospect is so extremely unfavorable, that it will not be best to rely 
on me for any thing. 

Your recollection is entirely in fault (or else mine is,) with regard 
to my ever having indulged in rhyme, even in my youthful days ; 
and my occupation and studies for many years past, have been far 
enough removed from any thing of the kind. Still if anything could 
inspire poetic raptures, it would be an occasion like the one you have 
in prospect ; and the charms of both eloquence and poetry surely 
cannot be wanting to grace your jubilee. 

I am pleased to observe that the able and indefatigable historian 
of Woodbury, is to deliver a historical address. Nothing could be 
more appropriate. His work is one of much merit. I obtained a 
copy of it shortly after its publication, and I always desired to thank 
him personally for the pleasure which the perusal gave me, as well 
as for the zeal, industry, and perseverance with which he prosecuted 
his work, and which was the more note-worthy and generous, from 
the fact that he is not a native of the district whose records and local 
incidents he has taken so much pains to preserve. If he has failed 
of receiving a suitable pecuniary compensation, (as I fear he has,) 
he -will at least reap a reward in the esteem of the community of 
which he deserves so well. 

I am very respectfully and truly yours, 

HENRY BOOTH. 



208 

From Rev. Rufus Murray, of Detroit, Mich., a native of Wood- 
bury. 

Detroit, June 30, 1859. 
P. M. Trowbridge, Esq., 

Dear Sir : — I received your letter of March hist, inviting me to 
be present at the Woodbury Centennial Celebration, and I have since 
been looking forward to the time with pleasure, inasmuch as I had 
made up my mind to come and socially commingle with my native 
and fellow townsmen in their festivities and historical celebration of 
the "two hundredth anniversary of the exploration of Ancient Wood- 
bury," but recent sickness in my family will prevent my being pres- 
ent, which I exceedingly regret, as nothing would have been so grati- 
fying to my feelings to have once more visited my native town, old 
Woodbury, especially at this time on the interesting occasion antici- 
pated in interchange with those of my boyhood days and youth, who 
now, with myself, have grown old and gray with the frosts of more than 
three score years ; but though providentially deprived of this happy 
greeting and pleasure, yet I am not unmindful of the rich legacy left 
to the descendants of Woodbury, by her ancient and noble sires, and 
' I most cordially congratulate all of you in your joy and most worthy 
celebration of the exploration of ancient Woodbury ; for I feel to 
express, and can truly say, not only fi'om early associations, but vene- 
rated feelings of love, honor and celebrity, old Woodbury, "with all 
thy faults, I love thee still," indeed she is identified as one of the 
first of the ancient towns of Connecticut, for her patriotism, zeal and 
love of country, the noblest sentiments that can warm and animate 
the human breast. Nothing, therefore, and no time more appropri- 
ate than the glorious Fourth, our Nation's birth-day — our country's 
independence, for your jubilee; when all, of every religious sect, and 
political creed, whatever their preference or faith, are lost and min- 
gled in one common feeling of love and brotherhood in their celebra- 
tion of ancient Woodbury, as well as their freedom and independence. 
We of this nation have been most remarkably favored with the visi- 
ble interference and protection of heaven ; for there are in our own 
history, so many plain and unequivocal marks of a divine power and 
assistance, that if we do not acknowledge it, and rejoice that the Lord 
God Omnipotent reigneth, we are either the blindest or the most 
ungrateful people on earth. For when we look back ui^on the Ameri- 
can Republic, the theatre of those events which tried men's souls, 
and the several parts they acted, we cannot but acknowledge the pow- 
er of him, whose kingdom is the Lord's, and who is governor among 



209 

the nations. But our fathers, where are they ? This question may 
well be repeated by Americans in this nineteenth century. 

The first members, too, of that old Congress, when and where was 
there ever such another assemblage before, or since, of like sterling 
worth, profound wisdom, talent energy and firmness of principle, 
bold patriotism and resolute courage; ready and willing to sac- 
rifice their all on their country's altar. 

That small, but heroic assemblage of high-born souls, congregated 
from the thirteen colonies, determined to be free or die in the sacred 
cause; all are now reaping the reward of their patriotic labors, in 
eternity, while we are enjoying the legacy they bequeathed us — free- 
dom and independence — which we fancy will ever be held in lasting 
remembrance by every true American ; for too well does the present 
generation appreciate the excellence and patriotism of those men, 
who guided the destinies of our country in those days of darkness and 
bitter trial; too well does it estimate the glorious events which have 
exalted these United States to their present elevation and greatness ; 
and too well do they reverence the wisdom and patriotism they bold- 
ly espoused and manifested in laying the foundation and platform of 
our glorious republic, ever to be disregarded, or lost to the remem- 
brance and affections of future posterity. No, while the world shall 
stand, may the heroic, manly and christian virtues of our fathers, as 
well as the causes and principles of that memorable event of our 
country's declai'ation of independence be treasured up and garnered 
in the hearts and affections of a grateful people, and the more sacred- 
ly regarded, admired, venerated and cherished, the farther we roll 
down the tide of time; because as we cherish and appreciate the 
christian Sabbath, the privileges and blessings of the christian religion, 
so should we esteem and prize our civil liberty, our country's freedom, 
our nation's birth-day. The legacy is ours, and just is the everlasting 
law that hath wedded happiness to virtue. In fullness is its worth — 
in fullness is its glory — in fullness be its praise ! 

Most respectfully yours, &c., 

HUFUS MURRAY. 

From Hon. Hiland Hall, Governor of the State of Vermont, a 
grandson of Ancient Woodbury. 

North Bennington, Vermont, July 1, 1859. 
Gentlemen: — I had expected, until within a day or two past, to 
have been able, in compliance with your invitation, to unite with you 
in the celebration of the Two Hundredth anniversary of the explora- 



210 

tion of ancient "Woodbury, but I now find it will be impracticable for 
me to do so. 

My father was born in ancient Woodbury, (Roxbury Parish,) in 
1763, and remained an inhabitant of the town until 1779, where he, 
as a member of the family of my grandfather, removed to Benning- 
ton, and settled on the farm on which I now live. 1 have heard much 
from his lips of Woodbury and its people, and have long had a desire 
to visit the place. I had fondly hoped to gratify that desire on the 
approaching anniversary of our National Independence, but find 
myself compelled reluctantly to forego that pleasure. 

Woodbury has also peculiar claims upon my patriotic feelings as a 
Vermonter. It was the birth-place of men to whom, perhaps, more 
than to all others, the State of Vermont owes its existence as an inde- 
pendent Commonwealth. 

Prior to the revolution, the lands of the territory now comprising 
the State of Vermont, had been granted, in the name of the King, by 
the royal Governor of the province of New Hampshire, and the set- 
tlers had purchased under those grants, not doubting that their titles 
were valid. The territory was, however, claimed by the governing 
authorities of New York, as forming a portion of that province, and 
the king, from political considerations, without probably designing to 
interfere with previous grants, decided the controversy in favor of 
New York, by declaring the western bank of Connecticut river to be 
the boundary between the two provinces. Mr. Colden, the Lieut. 
Governor of New York, not satisfied with obtaining the jurisdiction 
of a territory which had never before been treated by the crown as 
belonging to that province, coveted, for the benefit of himself and 
friends, the right of soil in the lands already granted. He accordingly 
proceeded to grant them anew to the members of his council, the 
attorney-general and other officers of government and favorites, not 
forgetting to take prudent care of himself and family. 

When the settlers declined to surrender their possessions to the 
new claimants, writs of ejectment were brought against them before 
the New York courts, their titles declared to be invalid, and writs of 
possession issued against them in favor of the New Yoi'k plaintiffs. 

Thus far all had been tolerably smooth work with the New York 
land speculators. But with the settlers it had now become a (|ues- 
tion whether they should tamely submit to the unjust oppression of 
their enemies, or resist them by force. Believing their situation to 
be one which fully justified revolution, they decided upon the latter, 
and Ethan Allen, Seth Warner and Remember Baker, all formerly 



211 

belonging to Woodbury, became their acknowledged leaders. They 
organized a body of volunteers under the name of " Green Mountain 
Boys," and forcibly and effectually resisted all efforts of the New 
York sheriffs and their posses to disturb the possessions of the set- 
tlei's or to establish the New York authority over them. The Green 
Mountain Boys, under their Woodbury leaders, resorted to such 
primitive modes of punishment for land-craving intruders as were 
deemed necessary to deter them from invading the disputed territory. 
A few of the most obstinate and incorrigible " Yorkers," after a for- 
mal trial before a committee of the settlers, were punished, as described 
in the quaint language of Ethan Allen, by being "chastised with the 
twigs of the wilderness, the growth of the land they coveted," which 
mode of punishment was familiarly denominated 'Uhe application of 
the Beach Seal" in allusion to the formal land patents of the New 
York governor, of which the pendent seal formed a distinguishing 
part. It had the intended effect of terrifying their enemies and of 
preventing further intrusions. 

By the New York governor and council, as well as by the land 
jobbers, the Green Mountain Boys were assailed with many oppro- 
brious epithets, but they were most usually denominated "the Ben- 
nington mob." Various methods were used to overcome them. They 
were indicted as rioters, repeated proclamations offering rewards for 
the arrest of Allen, Warner and Baker, and a few others, were issued, 
and finally they were declared by the New York government to be 
outlaws, and without a hearing, were adjudged to suffer death, if they 
neglected to surrender themselves for the space of seventy days. 
But all these efforts of the New York authorities, as is well known, 
were vain. The revolt thus begun by "the Green Mountain Boys," 
was continued until after the close of the revolution, when the titles 
of the settlers under New Hampshire, were quieted, by the admission 
of Vermont as a member of the federal union, with the full and free 
consent of the government and people of New York. 

Nor is it alone against the land speculators of New York that the 
services of Allen, Warner & Baker are deserving of grateful remem- 
brance. They were equally active and successful in their opposition 
to the oppressions of the mother country. The news of the sheddint^ 
of American blood at Lexington, had no sooner reached the forests 
of the New Hampshire Grants, than the Green Mountain Boys were 
mustered under their Woodbury leaders, and in a few days they were 
in the triumphant possession for the Continental Congress, of the 
strong fortresses of Ticonderoga and Crown Point. 



212 

The importance of this event in the American Revolution, can 
now scarcely be appreciated. It was at once seen and felt by the 
king's high tory executive of New York, Lieut. Governor Golden, 
who immediately wrote an account of it to Lord Dartmouth, the 
British Minister, using the following language. " A matter of great 
importance was carried out in the northern part of this province, no 
less than the actual taking his Majesty's forts at Ticonderoga and 
Grown Point, and making the garrison prisoners. * * The only 
people of this province," he adds, " who had any hand in this expe- 
dition, were the set of lawless people whom your Lordship has heard 
much of under the name of the Bennington mob. They were joined by 
a party from Gonnecticut, and another from Massachusetts Bay," &c. 

But this letter has already grown to a much greater length than I 
intended, and I must forbear even to mention the numerous other 
important services of these Woodbury men to the State of Vermont 
and to the whole country. 

The State of Vermont has recently erected a creditable monument 
at the grave of Allen in Burlington, and lam informed that the peo- 
ple of Connecticut are doing themselves equal honor by placing one 
over the remains of Warner at Roxbury. He was a hero of whom 
not only Woodbury, but Gonnecticut, and indeed the whole country 
may well be proud. 

Again, expressing my regret at not being able to meet and form 
personal acquaintance the ensuing week with my territorial cousins 
of Woodbury, I am, gentlemen, 

Very respectfully, yours, 

HILAND HALL. 

To P. M. WooDBRiDGE, Thomas Bull, and others, Gommittee of 
Invitation to the Celebration of the Two Hundredth Anniversary 
of the Exploration of ancient Woodbury, &c. 

Ancient Portrait Gallery. 

Agreeably to the request of the Committee of Invitation, and in 
conformity to a vote of the General Gommittee, Charles B. Crafts, 
Esq., of New Haven, aided by Miss Helen Blackman, of New Mil- 
for, Miss Helen E. Hinman, of Southbury, and others, procured and 
arranged in a tasteful manner, at Academy Hall, the following list 
of portraits and antique articles, which were visited and admired by 



I 



- 213 

thousands. Nothing could better carry the mind back to the early- 
days of the fathers, and give their posterity true glimpses of the past, 
than these portraits and relics, that had come down to us from a " for- 
mer generation." The sons and daughters of old Woodbury could look 
with pride upon the faces of these departed ancestors, who had lived 
and labored in these valleys, and who by their wisdom, patriotism 
and virtues, had shed an ever undiminished lusti'e upon their descend- 
ants. 

Hon. Nathaniel Smith and wife, taken, 1807. 
Phineas Smith and wife. 
. Hon. Nathan Smith, taken, 1834. 
Rev. Noah Benedict and son. 
Rev. Samuel R. Andrews, taken, 1826. 
Wife of Rev. Lyman Smith. 
Rev. Charles Sherman. 
Gen. Chauncey Crafts, 1826. 
Rev. Grove L. Brownell, 122G. 
Dr. R. Abernethy. 
Dr. J. R. Eastman. 
EUsha Michell, D. D. 
Shadrach Osborn and wife. 
Dr. Samuel Steele, taken, 1826. 
R. C. Steele, taken, 1826. 

Willie Steele Cothren, son of William and Mary J. Cothren. 
Hon. William Hinman. 
Gen. David Bird and wife. 
Col. David Bellamy and wife. 
Nicholas J. Masters and wife, taken, 1796. 
Hon. Charles B. Phelps. 
John P. Marshall. 
Albert Blackman. 
John Pernett and wife. 

Marshall. 

John Blagg. 
Jasper P. Blagg. 
Wife of Col. Pearse. 

Two of Daniel Bacon, Esq., taken in 1795 and 1826. 
Two of his wife, " " 1795 and 1826. 

Asahel Bacon, wife and two children, 1795. 
Eliiah Sherman, Esq., and wife. 
26 



214 

Jesse Minor. 
Norman Parker, 
H. J. Lindsley. 
John McKinney. 
Timothy Terrill. 
Rev. Fosdic Harrison and wife. 
Mrs. Caroline Camp. 
A looking glass 200 years old. 
Two paintings over 200 years old. 
One painting over 300 years old. 
Map of New England 104 years old. 
A book of pamphlets, one title page being as follows : 
" The Picture of a Puritane" 
or a relation of the opinions, qualities, and practices of the Anabap- 
tists in Germanic, and of the Puritanes in England. Wherein is 
firmly proved that the Puritanes doe resemble the Anabaptists, in aboue 
four score seuerell thinges. By 0. 0., of Emmanuel. Whereunto is 
annexed a short treatise, entituled, puritano-papismus, or a discoi^ery 
of Puritan-papism. 

Eondon. 
Printed by E. A., for Nathaniel Fosbroke, and to be sold at his shop at 
the West End 

Of pcmles, 1605. 
One Silver Tea Caddy, purchased with Continental money. 
One Table Spoon, 1712. 
One set Tea Spoons, 1786. 
One pair Knee Buckles, 1781. 
One High Heel Shoe, very old. 

A copy of the Farmers' Journal, printed at Daubury, Conn., 1790. 
Lace Pattern and Bobbin used by the mother of Roger Sherman, 
signer of the Declaration. 
Antique China Shoes, &c. 
A Child's Embroidery, 1773. 
Antique Shoes, Mrs. N. R. Smith, Roxbury. 

Shoe Buckles, worn by Gen. Ephraim Hinman, Roxbury; exhib- 
ited by M. L. Beardsley. 

Small Brass Tea Kettle, brought from Holland 1656 or 1657; ex- 
hibited by Mrs. D. C. Sanford, New Milford. 

Silver Spoons, small in size, formerly owned by Mrs. Capt. Tru- 
man Hinman. 

Silver Pepper Boxes, 1770, owned by Mrs. Capt. Truman Hinman. 
Silver Tankard, 1790, owned by Mrs. Anna Hinman. 



215 

Gold and Silver Knee Buckles, 1750— Mr. Truman Hinman. 
Satin Brocade Dress, worn by Mrs. Capt. Truman Hinman, 1760- 
Pictures formerly owned by Edward Hinman, Esq., commonly 
called « Lawyer Ned," one of the two earliest lawyers in Woodbury, 
1760. ^ 

Embroidery— Linen Curtains, wrought in colors in worsted, about 
1765, by Miss Sarah Hicock, afterwards second wife of Col. Benja- 
min Hinman, now owned by Mrs. Olive Hinman Laird. 

An Indian Belt of Pomperaug, owned by Erastus Osborn, Esq., 
1659. 

The last list of eight distinct kinds of articles, was exhibited by 
Miss Helen E. Hinman, of Southbury. 

"The Pequot Gun," made and dated in 1624; the "Forty Indian 
Gun," so called from the alleged fact that it had been the instrument 
of death to forty redskins ; Washington's New York Chair, and that 
of Col. Benj. Hinman, with his " Pipe of Peace," were also on ex- 
hibition. There were many other things of interest in this collection 
of antiquities, of which the editor, in the hurry of the separation of 
the great assembly, was unable to obtain. 

The following sweet lines, written for the Litchfield Centennial 
Celebration, in 1851, by a lofty genius of Woodbury, a most lovely 
and estimable lady, now an angel in the regions of bliss, breathe the 
sentiments and emotions she would have loved to express, had she 
been spared to join in the exercises of our interesting festival.* The 
reader can not fail to be impressed with their beauty, and their adapta- 
tion to the circumstances of our celebration. They seem like a voice 
of the loved and lost, from the spirit land, breathing a spirit of deep 
affection from the realms of happiness. 

A Call to the Centennial Celebration. 
Brothers ! from each laughing valley, 

From our hill-sides, rough and bold I 
Round our common center rally. 

Like the Jewish tribes of old ! 

Fathers, come ! your locks will whiten — 

Mothers ! ye are young no more ; 
But your fading hopes will brighten, 

With the memories of yore ! 



* Mrs. Mary Smith Monell, wife of Hon. John J. Monell, of Newburgh, N. Y., 
and only daughter of Hon. N. B. Smith, 



216 

Come, ye sons, so sturdy, growing, 
Strong and tall, as freemen should ; — 

Bring your sisters, fluttering, glowing, 
Like rose-laurels in a wood. 

We will tell you, if you listen, 
How two hundred years ago, 

Pilgrims saw our Avaters glisten, 
In the valley, far below ; — 

Where the forest, grand and lonely. 

In primeval beauty stood, 
And the wandering red men only 

Knew the windings through the wood ; 

Where our household fires are burning. 
Wild deer bounded, far and free ; 

Streams, our busy mill-wheels turning 
Idly, sang a song of glee ; 

Where our fathers sat beside them. 

After travel long and sore — 
Fearing nought that could betide them. 

Might they find a home once more ! 

For a home they fronted danger — 

Wrought with rifle lying near : 
To all luxury a stranger, 

Was each dauntless Pioneer. 

Noble Fathers ! silent lying 

In your grave-rest, stern and cold, 

Still ye preach, with voice undying. 
To your children from the mould ! 

And ye tell us, " Love each other ; " 
" Guard your homes we toiled to win. 

Let no hatred of your brother. 
Doubt, or malice, enter in ! " 

" Chiefly on each household altar. 
Keep devotion burning bright. 

Then ye will not pause or falter 
In the doing of the right!" 



217 

" Firm in purpose and endeavor, 
Tireless till the goal be won, 

Men shall know you, wheresoever 
There is labor to be done." 

Ye are freemen ! Ye may glory. 
In your Union, firm and strong ;- 

Let no future tell a story, 
Of dissension, or of wrong. 

Look into each other's faces — 
Ye will meet again no more ; 

Then depart and fill your places 
Better than you did before. 



CONCLUDING REMARKS. 

The weather during the two days devoted to the exercises, was 
clear, cool, and delightful. It was a general remark that Providence 
seemed to smile on the celebration. The immense concourse of peo- 
ple exhibited very great interest in the proceedings, which never flag- 
ged during the extended exercises, and constant sittings of the two 
days. There was a generous and intelligent appreciation of the in- 
tellectual feast prepared for them, on this occasion, never excelled at 
any similar celebration. Although the labors of the Committee have 
been severe and painful, beyond the comprehension of many, and 
might exceed the belief of all, yet its members feel fully compensated 
for all their pains and toil, by the expression of entii'e satisfaction 
and approbation, on the part of the people, which greet them on every 
side. So far as we know, every hearer, whose voice has yet been 
heard, declares the celebration to have been an unbounded success. 

On the Sabbath preceding the 4th, allusions to the approaching cel- 
ebration were made in several of the Churches in town, and an ap- 
propriate welcome to the returned emigrants from the old town ex- 
tended. In the First, or old Pioneer Congregational Church, the 
oldest by many years in this county, the pastor, Rev. Robert G. Wil- 
liams, read a sermon, preached by Rev. Anthony Stoddard, its second 
minister, on the 6th of July, 1754, to the same Chui'ch, in presence 
of the levies, raised to march against Crown Point, in the old French 
"War. The sermon was written on leaves about three inches square, 



218 

and showed evident traces of the patriarchal age of one hundred and 
five years. The historical associations which clustered around it, the 
place, the identical manuscript, the very presence in which we were 
assembled, listening to the same words which our fathers, who have 
been slumbering for generations in the old church-yard, heard on 
that occasion, so momentous to many hearts, wrought up the imagi- 
nation to a temporary companionship with the silent shades of the 
spirit land. It was a fitting introduction to the exercises of the cele- 
bration, that was so soon to occur. 

It was not a small matter to feed and shelter the vast multitude as- 
sembled at the celebration. But the most ample provision to meet 
thQ exigences of the occasion had been made by the ladies. Tents 
had been prepared by the Committee, for each of the towns once 
included within the limits of Ancient Woodbury, " with ensigns fly- 
ing," to direct the people to the proper places. There was also a tent 
appropriated to the use of invited guests from abroad. In these the 
multitudes united in a mammoth Antiquarian Pic-Nic. No price 
was demanded, but like the sunshine, all was free. But the antique 
pic-nic proper was celebrated beneath the deep blue sky, within the 
shade of some large apple trees, spread on old tables, covered with 
pewter platters, wooden trenchers, pewter and wooden spoons, and all 
the antiquarian articles that had been preserved, and handed down 
to us from " former generations." The viands consisted of bean por- 
ridge, baked pork and beans, Indian pudding, hominy, rye and Indian 
bread, and numerous other primitive dishes. Mrs. N. B. Smith pre- 
sided over the table arrangements for AVoodbury, with that ease and 
grace for which she is so much distinguished, aided in the most ef- 
fective manner by nearly all the other ladies of the town. In all the 
tents the tables groaned with abundance, and were set out with a taste 
in arrangement, and excellence of viands, rarely equalled on any 
similar festive occasion. Too great praise cannot be awarded to the 
ladies for the indispensable aid they furnished at the joyous festival. 
Where all did well, it would be invidious to mention names. 

Among the many pleasing incidents of the celebration, was the 
reading of the beautiful and thrilling poem, in the preceding pages 
by Mrs. Ann S. Stephens, a native of "Ancient Woodbury." There 
was a soul, and an emotion, pervading the whole of the production, 
that showed the heart of the writer was in the subject ; and so strik- 
ing was its effect on an audience wearied by the almost uninterrupted 
exercises of ten hours, that when the reading was concluded, and the 
" Historian of Ancient Woodbury " advanced to the front of the 



219 

stand, and moved three cheers for the " Poetess of Ancient Wood- 
buiy," it was responded to by the great assemblage, with an enthu- 
siasm which must have been grateful to the distinguished authoress, 
who was, at the moment, sitting quietly upon the stand. 

An attempt was made to keep a Regij^r of the names of all who 
attended the celebi'ation, with a view to preservation. The request 
that every person would register his name, was announced from the 
stand. But owing to the gneat multitude, and to the fact that every 
moment was occupied with interesting public exercises, very few 
complied with the request. 

Among the distinguished persons in attendance, besides those* 
already named, we noticed the following named persons ; and doubt- 
less there were many others, whom we did not see in the crush and 
hurry of the occasion : — Hon. John Boyd of Winchester, Secretary 
of Connecticut ; Hon. Origen S. Seymour of Litchfield, Judge of 
the Superior Court, with his son, Edward W. Seymour, Esq.; Jona- 
than Knight, M. D., of New Haven, Professor in Yale College ; 
Hon. Ralph D. Smith of Guilford, a native of Southbury ; Hon. 
William B. Wooster of Birmingham ; E. B. Cooke, Esq., Editor of 
the Waterbury American ; Rev. J. M. Willey of Waterbury ; Hon. 
Judson W. Sherman, Member of Congress, of Angelica, N. Y. ; 
Hon. Green Kendrick of Waterbury ; Nathaniel A. Bacon, Esq., of 
New Haven ; William Nelson Blakeman, M, D., a distinguished 
physician of New York, and a native of Roxbury ; Charles Nettleton, 
Esq., of New York, a native of Washington ; Hon. Samuel G. Good- 
rich of Southbury, late Consul at Paris, the well-known " Peter 
Parley;" C. S. Trowbridge, Esq., of Auburn, N. Y.; R. F. Trow- 
bridge, Esq., of Syracuse, N. Y.; Rev. Charles W. Powell of Mid- 
dlebury ; Alexander Frazer, Esq., of New York ; Rev. C. S. 
Sherman of Naugatuck ; Rev. Abijah M. Calkin of Cochecton, N. Y. ; 
Rev. Ira Abbott of Southbury ; Rev. Jason Atwater of West Haven ; 
Rev. J. K. Averill of Plymouth ;, Rev. E. Lyman, and Hon. Charles 
Adams of Litchfield, Editor of the Litchfield Enquirer. 

Among the venerable men of other days, we noticed on the stage, 
Capt. Judson Hurd, 85 years of age, so active and vigorous, that he 
had ridden on horseback in the morning, with his " lady love " of 72, 
on a pilHou behind him. We also noticed Dea. David Punderson of 
Washington, aged 86, Nathaniel Richardson of Middlebury, aged 85, 
and Mr. William Summers, of the ripe age of nearly ninety years, a 
resident of Woodbury, and the oldest man in town. 

The extended and etficient arrangements of the General Com- 
mittee, for providing strangers with accommodations and protection, 



220 

were thoroughly carried out. Perfect satisfaction and quiet reigned 
throughout the celebration. More than fifteen hundred visitors were 
lodged in the town the first night, and in the other towns of the 
ancient territory, at least twice that number. All the inhabitants threw 
open their doors, and fro|^ ten to seventy-five persons to a house 
found quarters for the night. Even our least opulent citizens dis- 
played an extraordinary anxiety to add to the general enjoyment of 
the occasion. As an instance, Mr. Harry M. Fox, who, certainly, is 
not much blessed with this world's goods, fed twenty-six persons, and 
lodged twelve. We have not yet heard of an individual, who was 
"not provided with reasonable accommodations. 

To the active field operations of Rev. R. G. Williams, Rev. C. T. 
Woodruff, James Huntington, Esq., Wm. E. Woodruff, Esq., and 
John A. Boughton, B. A., the people are, in good part, indebted for 
the arrangement of the tents, and preparation of the grounds in a 
comfortable and beautiful manner. 

To Philo M. Trowbridge, Esq., for his indefatigable labors for 
many months, both as chairman of the Committee of Invitation, and 
as Secretary of the General Committee, as well as for the excellent 
taste displayed by him in the antique department, the warmest thanks 
of the public are due. 

A very pleasing feature in the "Antique Procession," not before 
noticed in these pages, was the fine turn-out of King Solomon's 
Lodge, No. 7, of Free and Accepted Masons, of Woodbury, in the 
splendid regalia of its mystic brotherhood. This is not only one of 
the oldest lodges west of Connecticut river, having received its first 
charter in 1765, from the Provincial Grand Lodge of the Colony of 
Massachusetts, but it has been one of the oldest and most respectable 
in the State, both for the number and cliaracter of its members. It 
was with becoming pride, that they joined in the antique portion of 
the proceedings of the festival, celebrating at once the antiquity of 
the town, and the establishment therein of their own ancient, benevo- 
olent, and honorable fraternity. 

The music on the occasion was furnished by the New Milford 
Band, in a highly creditable and satisfactory manner. During the 
evening of the first day, it serenaded the orator of the day, and other 
I'esidents connected with the active exercises of the occasion. In 
short, every part of the programme was well performed, and the 
whole celebration was pronounced by all present to be a perfect suc- 
cess. As it was the largest, so it was more perfect, in all its arrange- 
ments, than any similar celebration in this country. 



INDEX 



Address, Historical, 

Aged Men, . - - . 

Antique Committee, 

" Pic-Nic, 

" Portrait Gallery, - 

" Provision, - - - 

Appointments, notice of. 

Bacon, Wm. T. — Historical Poem, 

" " Centennial Hymn, 

Benediction, Rev. Thomas L. Shipman, 

" Rev. Pliilo Judson, 

Bethel Rock Prayer Meeting, - 

Celebration, Origin of. 

Centennial Hymn, 

Cothren, Wm., Historical Addi-ess, - 
" " Letter of, 

« " Odes of, 

Concluding Remarks, - - - 

Churchill, John, Letter of, - 

Committee, General, Appointment of, - 
" " 1st Meeting of, 

« " 2nd " " 

« " 3d " " 

" " 4th " " 

« « 5th " 

« " Votes of, - 

" of Invitation, 

" on Antique Procession, 

27 



27 

219 

10 

12 

11-212 

20 

4 

78 

- 103 
101 

- 187 
101 

3 

103 

27 

7 

21-100-137 

217 

8 

3 

3 



11 
4 
5 

10 



222 

Committee on Finance, - - - - - 11 

" on Portrait Gallery, - - - 11 

•* of Arrangements for "Woodbury, - - 11 

" on Pic-Nic " " - - 12 

Committees of the several Towns, - - - 13 to 18 

Distinguished Guests, - - - - -219 

Exercises, Order of, . . . _ . g 

Indian Deed of 1659, . . - . . 18 

Invitation Committee, ----- o 

« «-...-. 6 

King Solomon's Lodge, - - - - 220 

Letter, Booth, Henry, ----- 207 

" Butler, Thomas B., - - - - - 199 

" Graham, John L., - - - - 188 

" Fuller, Samuel, - - - - - 193 

" Hall, Hiland, - ... - . 209 

« Hill, Charles J., - - - - - 189 

" Hinman, Royal R., " - - - - 192-202 

" " John E., - - - - - 200 

" Knight, Jonathan, - - - - 196 

" Murray, Rufus, - - - - - 208 

" Peet, Harvey P., - - - . 203 

" Sherman, John, - - - - - ' 192 

" Smith, Julia E., - - - - 207 

" Stoddard, Henry, - - - - - 1 93 

" Stuart, Isaac W., - - - - 1 60 

" Trowbridge, R. F., - - - - - 206 

" Whiting, Betsey T. A., ... 204 

" Williams, William, - - - - - 178 

Marshals, List of, - - - - - -10 

Odes, by W. Cothren, - - - - 21-100-137 

" by Rev. W. T. Bacon, - - - - 103 

" by Mrs. Lydia H. Sigourney, - - - - 161 

" by Mrs. Ann S. Stephens, - - - 155 

" by Miss Hortensia M. Thomas, - - - 206 



223 

Ode, by Mrs. Mary Smith Monell, - - - 215 

Order of Exercises, ----- 8 

Order of Procession, - - - - . 19 

Poem, Historical,— W. T. Bacon, - - - - 78 

" Centennial— Geo. H. Clark, - - - 162 

" Mrs. Ann S. Stephens, - - - - 181 

" Miss H. M. Thomas, - - - - 179 

Prayer— Rev. R. G. Williams, - - - - 22 

Rev. F. W. Smith, . . - . 104 

" Rev. C. T. Woodruff, - - - - 183 

Portrait Gallei-y,- - - - - - 212 

Sermon — Rev. Henry B. Sherman, - - - 107 

" in verse — Major Amos Stoddard, - - - 194 

Sentiment — Hon. J. L. Graham, - - - 189 

" Hon. R. R. Hinman, - - - - 193 

" Mr. Sherman Tuttle, - - - 193 

Speech — Rev. Anson S. Atwood, - . - . 125 

" Hon. Seth P. Beers, - - - - 137 

" Hon. Charles Chapman, - - - - 159 

" Hon. Henry Dutlon, - - - - 168 

" Leman Galpin, M. D., - - - - 174 

" David B. W. Hard, M. D., - - - 143 

" Rev. Philo Judson, - . . . 184 

" Rev. Benjamin C. Meigs, - - - 102 

" Hon. William T. Minor, - - . 150 

" Dea. Truman Minor, - - . 131 

" ^ Samuel Minor, Esq., - - - - 172 

" Rev. Thomas L. Shipman, - - - l50 

" Nathaniel Smith, Esq., - - - - 25 

" Thomas M. Thompson, A. M., - - 156 

" Gen. Wm. Williams, - - . . 178 

Town Committees, - - - - - 19 



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